Spring is upon us. That means flower beds, shrubs, and other types of foliage are going to be budding all across the country.
Once again, winter will shed its cold, dull grip on the nation, and the world will come alive with color.
It also means homeowners everywhere will be planting new gardens and revamping their yards to reflect the rebirth of the season.
Quite a few considerations go into creating the perfect lawns and plant beds.
Simply choosing which flowers and greenery to plant can be a chore, and deciding how to arrange those plants takes a great deal of thought as well.
Choosing the right soil enrichment methods is yet another factor to contend with. For some gardeners, deciding whether to add mulch to the mix also comes into play.
Those who add that extra layer to their gardens and flower beds will need to find the right Mulch for Sale Near Me.
To Mulch or Not to Mulch?
Some people believe that mulch is unnecessary. They feel it’s a waste of time and expense. As such, they choose not to use this material to foster their plant beds.
While it’s certainly possible to grow a flower garden, shrubs, and other varieties of foliage without mulch, many experts advise against it. In truth, mulch can provide a range of benefits for plants.
- Maintains Soil Temperature
Mulch is known for its ability to help keep soil temperatures steady. Why is this important?
Plants’ roots need to be kept at a specific temperature range to remain strong and healthy, ideally between 65 and 75 degrees.
Roots are responsible for drawing water and nutrients from the soil and delivering them to other parts of plants.
If they’re exposed to extreme temperatures, they can’t do so effectively.
Mulch can protect those fragile roots against unexpected cold snaps during the spring and fall and severe heat waves during the summer months.
Holds In Moisture
It’s no secret that moisture is crucial for plants. Mulch holds onto moisture, making it more readily available to plants when they need it.
Without a protective layer of mulch, moisture evaporates from the soil more quickly due to heat and wind. Mulch helps prevent that from happening.
On a side note, mulch can keep rich topsoil from washing away during spring and summer rainstorms and taking your plants with it or exposing their roots to the elements.
Keeps Weeds at Bay
Though it’s impossible to completely prevent weeds from growing in a garden, mulch can help keep them to a minimum.
It blocks sunlight from the weed seeds that make their way into your plant beds, keeping them from germinating and getting the light they need to grow.
Mulch can also keep the weeds from getting the ventilation they need to thrive.
Keeping Your Plants Healthy and Beautiful
Those are some of the main benefits of adding mulch to your plant beds.
It helps with delivering moisture while protecting plants’ roots from soil runoff, heat, cold, and other hazards.
It can also hamper the growth of weeds so they don’t have a chance to starve your plants of moisture and nutrients.
In addition, mulch has a way of enhancing the appearance of a yard in its own right. In light of all that, choosing to add mulch to your gardening routine could certainly be a good idea.