As you begin to plan your spring landscaping, mulch can help your plants
thrive so don’t forget to consider your options.
Benefits of mulch
Completes the look of your yard or flower bed
Acts as a natural weed control
Maintains moisture levels in your soil, protecting from over and
under watering
Acts as a barrier to fluctuating temperatures that can damage your
plants
Plant-based mulch adds nutrients back into the soil as it decomposes
Types of mulch
Leaves or grass clippings decompose quickly and enrich the soil
Bark is decorative, decomposes slowly and adds nutrients to the soil
Wood chips are decorative, decompose quickly and add nutrients to
the soil
Stones or pebbles are decorative but not beneficial to the soil like
plant-based mulch, but won’t have to be replaced every year
Having success with mulch
Protect the yard around your planting bed with edging
For new plants, shrubs or trees, install them in the soil before you
add mulch and allow plenty of room to grow. Adding mulch retains
water.
When adding new mulch to a perennial planting bed, remove the old
layer so you don’t cause rot, starve from nutrients or kill them.
Mulch should never be more than three inches thick in a planting bed
For mature plants, shrubs or trees, clear mulch away from a four-inch
area around each plant base to prevent too much water and rot.
