Whether you have a garden that you’ve been working on or a grove of trees and bushes that you’d like to keep in good condition, several things could go wrong in these areas. Fortunately, mulch is a good “one size fits all” solution. If you’re wondering how that could be, we’re sure this list of the top benefits of adding mulch to your lawn will show you.
It Controls Weeds
Nobody likes weeds in their yard, but they’re even worse if they end up in your garden. Many weed killers exist on the market, but mulch is an excellent option if you want to try a more natural alternative.
Unfortunately, it won’t kill the weeds directly, but since it blocks sunlight from reaching the soil, it’ll stop new ones from growing. That also means that you’ll need to clear the mulch anytime you put in a new plant, but once it begins to sprout, you can push the mulch back in place.
It Helps Retain Moisture
Since mulch blocks out a lot of the direct sunlight, this will also help the ground it covers retain more water. Even after a good thunderstorm, the sun can evaporate much of the water that hasn’t thoroughly soaked into the soil. Mulch helps prevent that from happening.
Of course, you could end up drowning your plants a bit after heavy rainfall. That’s why installing a yard drainage system is a good idea, especially if you live in Baton Rouge, LA, since we get a lot of rain down here.
It Can Deter Certain Pests
Let’s start this point by clarifying that mulch won’t stop birds or rabbits. If those are the pests you’re dealing with, you’ll need to find a different solution. However, many bugs such as beetles and cockroaches don’t enjoy the scents of certain types of mulch, like those made from cedar and cypress. Before buying some bags of mulch for yourself, read into which kinds of bugs they help deter or ask a store associate for some assistance.
It Protects Against Extreme Temperatures
As previously mentioned, mulch can block out a lot of the sunlight that would typically reach the topsoil of your yard or garden. That means it’ll be easier to regulate the temperature of the ground by using it. It’s possible for your garden to get too hot, which can be detrimental to certain plants, so the mulch will make it easier for them to thrive.
This also works in colder situations. Mulch is very good at preventing frost, and if it’s layered well enough, it can even stop the occasional freeze. This will give your plants a little more time to thrive before the coming winter.
It Looks Good
Our final benefit for adding mulch to sections of your yard is more of a personal one, but it’s hard to deny that a well-mulched yard looks great. Mulch helps add color and uniformity to your groves of trees and gardens full of flowers and vegetables. Plus, it doesn’t die like grass, so it’ll look good all year.
