The Importance of Mulch
Why Mulch?
Because in the end, mulching saves you time, energy and money. And it sure looks good.
Here are some other compelling reasons:
- Helps prevent weeds by depriving them of sunlight. Mulch won’t prevent existing weeds from continuing to grow, so remove them from your beds before mulching.
- Insulates plant roots by keeping soil cool in the summer and warm in the winter, stabilizing soil temperatures which alleviate plant stress.
- Less Watering! Because mulch keeps soil cooler in the summer, water doesn’t evaporate as quickly, meaning less time you have to spend watering!
- Helps with erosion, particularly new gardens where soil has been moved around and built up to create beds. Mulch will prevent that soil from being washed away.
- Improves your soil. Organic mulches break down over time, which adds vital nutrients to your soil. Even if you have terrible soil, mulching over the years can create some descent stuff to plant in!
How Much Mulch
No more than 2”– 3”
Anymore and it sits there and rots. Once rotting starts, your mulch will need to be removed. No fun. So, check the depth before you order.
Here’s how to calculate:
If you already have a base coat and need topdressing:
Length x Width divided by 300 = yardage needed for a 1” thick layer of mulch.
If you’re starting from scratch:
Length x Width divided by 150 = yardage needed for a 2” thick layer of mulch.
Just in case you want to double check yourself – use the mulch calculator link below
Now…let’s get mulching!