05/15/2024
Why is mulch important to your landscape? Here we give an in-depth guide to the benefits of using mulch.
The Benefits of Mulch
Why does it matter if a mulch material is natural and biodegradable? First, let’s take a look at the list of all the benefits of mulch:
Looks Great – It’s the sole reason many gardeners use mulch. Mulch can really set off your lawn and the plants in your garden beds.
Retains Moisture – Mulch acts as an insulating barrier against evaporation from heat and wind. Mulch holds moisture in the soil, allowing you to cut down dramatically on the frequency and duration of watering. This encourages established plants to be more drought tolerant, but it can also make all the difference for the success of new shrubs and trees.
Moderates Soil Temperature – Many of a plant’s feeder roots (which do the heavy lifting when it comes to taking up nutrients for the plant) grow in the first few inches underneath the soil surface. Those roots remain healthier when they aren’t exposed to extreme heat or freezing temperatures. A mulch layer acts as a buffer against temperature shift.
Also, heat from the sun can bake exposed soil and create a crust which inhibits water from infiltrating the surface.
Buffers the Soil Surface from Runoff and Erosion – If soil crusts over and becomes impermeable to water, rain and irrigation will flow over the surface, carrying with it particles of topsoil and any chemicals or excess fertilizer. Crusted soil is also more susceptible to erosion from wind.
You may already know that soil compaction can create long-term problems, which is why you should always avoid walking in your garden and landscape beds. Well, did you also know that sustained pounding rain or hail can have the same compacting effect?
Mulch can protect your soil against all of these negative elements.
Even pliable exposed soil is at risk of erosion. During a heavy rain event, water will seek the lowest point in the landscape and can carry away some of your topsoil in the process – unless it’s covered with mulch.
Suppresses W**d Germination and Growth – W**ds are inevitable in the garden, but use mulch properly and you will significantly reduce their numbers. With a layer of mulch covering your garden soil, the w**d seeds lurking there won’t receive the light they need to germinate, and mulch can block the seeds which blow in on the wind from reaching soil and taking root.
The w**ds which do manage to germinate will be smothered by mulch and less likely to become established.
For all these reasons, mulch is one of the single best things you can do to manage w**ds in your garden. I can always spot an area of the GardenFarm where the mulch layer needs replenishment – it’s wherever the w**ds are coming up.
Suppresses Soil-borne Diseases – There are many plant diseases which live in the soil. While some diseases infect a plant through the root system, most must make contact with foliage. Splashing water from rain or when you irrigate the bed can carry soil-borne pathogens up from the soil onto the lower foliage of your plants. Disease pathogens making contact with the foliage can infect the plant.
Mulch acts like a shield to prevent the disease movement through the water, so it significantly reduces your risk of plant diseases.
Adds Nutrients and Organic Materials – Healthy soil should be made up of around 30% organic matter (by volume). Native soils – clay and sand, for example – are often lacking in organic material. Compost is a great source of organic material to improve soil health, but so is mulch. Over time, natural mulch material breaks down. It feeds the soil food web which, in turn, feeds your plants. Organic matter also improves soil drainage over time.
This is a significant benefit of mulch, and one that non-natural mulches or non-biodegradable mulches don’t offer. This is why I only recommend natural and biodegradable mulch materials.
Reduces Landfill Waste – Many mulches are materials which would otherwise end up in the landfill. Wood products, leaves, pine bark – these are all too often considered trash. Instead, think of them as nature’s gifts to gardeners.
By using wood mulch products, we’re really cutting down on landfill waste. In fact, 60% of all material going into a landfill can – and should – be composted, used as mulch or recycled.
Incorporating natural and biodegradable mulch into your gardening routine offers a plethora of benefits that extend far beyond mere aesthetics. From retaining moisture and moderating soil temperature to suppressing w**ds and enhancing soil health, mulch serves as a versatile guardian for your garden's well-being. By opting for sustainable mulch materials, you not only enrich your soil but also contribute to reducing landfill waste, transforming what might have been discarded into invaluable resources for nurturing your green spaces. Embrace the power of mulch to cultivate thriving gardens while championing environmental stewardship one layer at a time.
