Knowing what mulch is used for and how to properly use it can help you encourage healthy plant growth in your garden. At Just Mulch, they want to make creating a beautiful outdoor space as simple as possible. That is why they offer a range of bark mulch and soil products that can be delivered right to your front door.
What is Mulch?
Mulch is a loose layer of material (usually 2-4 inches thick) that is placed on the surface of cultivated soil. While mulch is most often placed in a garden during the springtime, additional mulch can be added throughout the growing season as needed. Mulch can be used to completely cover open soil but should never touch plant stems or tree trunks.
Benefits of Mulching
Depending on the type of mulch being used, there can be many benefits to using mulch in the garden. Some of the benefits of mulching include:
- Deterring certain pests
- Encouraging beneficial soil organisms
- Giving a decorative finish to the garden
- Helping soil retain moisture in the summertime
- Improving overall soil texture
- Protecting plant roots from extreme temperatures
- Providing a barrier between edible crops and soil
When Should Mulch Be Applied?
The best time of year to apply mulch to a garden is in mid- to late spring or fall because this is when the soil is both moist and warm. Applying mulch too early or too late in the season may be ineffective, as the soil could be too cold or too dry. Consider mulching around new plantings or to help establish beds and specimen plants.
How Should Mulch Be Applied?
Garden beds and borders can be entirely mulched as long as you are careful not to cover low growing plants or to pile the mulch against the stems of woody plants; however, to get the most out of using mulch in your garden, you should:
- Place a 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of biodegradable mulch on the top of your garden soil.
- Remove weeds, including their roots, before laying mulch over moist soil.
- Cover new garden beds with a thick layer of mulch.
- Only mulching single trees and specimen shrubs to the radius of the canopy.
If you would like to learn more about what mulch is used for, or if you are interested in one of their bark mulch and soil products or delivery services, please contact Just Mulch at 236-98-MULCH or by filling out a contact form on their website.