SAND, SOIL AND MULCH

Mulch Conserves Moisture in Soil

As evaporation can quickly remove essential moisture from bare, unprotected garden beds. However, a well-mulched garden can retain water in the soil to nurture flowers, herbs, vegetables and other plants.

1. Mulch Minimizes Soil Compaction
2. Unmulched gardens can suffer from compacted soil, particularly with repeated watering and weather-related evaporation. However, many organic mulches appeal to earthworms, which can burrow through soil to add aeration and create healthy dirt density for plants.
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4. Mulch Adds Weed Control
5. Mulch helps to hold back the growth of unwanted vegetation in a garden bed by blocking the sunlight from sprouting weeds. In addition, a generous application of mulch can fill the empty spaces in a garden, discouraging wind-borne weeds from taking root.
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7. Mulch Prevents Erosion
8. Most mulch adds texture and stability to garden soils, keeping erosion to a minimum, even in heavy rains or winds.
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10. Mulch Enhances Plant Nutrition
11. Organic mulches (such as plant matter and wood mulches) add nutritional value to the soil as they decompose naturally. Many of these biodegradable mulch materials contain essential minerals and other important components to nurture your garden plants.
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13. Mulch Protects Plants in Seasonal Changes
14. In regions with varying climates, garden mulch can guard plants and their roots from baking in hot weather, or from freezing in colder conditions. Mulch also shields garden plantings’ roots from direct exposure to the elements, such as hard rains, scorching sunshine and harsh winds.
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16. Mulch Improves the Garden’s Overall Appearance
17. Garden mulches can greatly enhance the look of your garden. Professional gardeners and landscapers nearly always finish their work with garden mulch. Even sparsely planted gardens look polished with liberal mulching.