Rapid Lawn Landscape Solutions Ltd. is your best Regina landscaping company. We have helped many customers achieve the yards they have always dreamed of. In our latest article, we share the many benefits of mulch in your garden!
Benefits of Mulch
There are many advantages of adding mulch to a garden area, besides making the garden more attractive and finished looking.
These include:
- One of the best benefits of mulch is its ability to retain moisture in the soil.
- Organic mulches break down over time and contribute to soil health. This can be very helpful, especially if your soil fertility is poor.
- Mulch reduces winter injury and helps with weed control.
- Other garden mulch benefits include protection from erosion and protection from mechanical injury from weed eaters and lawnmowers.
- Some mulch types, such as cypress, cedar or pinewood chips, do an excellent job of repelling ticks, gnats and fleas.
Organic Versus Inorganic
Organic mulches are derived from natural materials that decompose over time. As organic mulches decompose, they add nutrients and organic matter to the soil and beneficial microorganisms like nitrifying bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi are enhanced while undesirable pathogens — those that cause plant diseases are inhibited. Increased amounts of organic matter will improve soil tilth and drainage, increase soil moisture retention, reduce soil compaction, and attract earthworms. Because organic mulches decompose, they need to be replaced. Depending on the type of mulch used, replacement intervals vary from one to four years.
Inorganic mulches include stones, geotextile mats and landscape fabrics, and plastic mulches. Landscape fabrics and plastic mulches deteriorate with time and eventually require replacement. Inorganic mulches usually are more tedious to install and may require irrigation because water penetration may be limited. Some inorganic mulches are designed to reflect the sky to confuse and keep insects from landing on plants. Many do not have a natural appearance and are often covered by an organic mulch for decorative purposes.
General Tips for Applying Mulches
- Do not place mulch directly against plant crowns or tree bases. Mulch placed directly in contact with stems or tree trunks may retain excess moisture around the base of the plant that can favour the development of diseases like crown rot. Mulch piled around plants may also serve as lodging for bark and stem eating rodents.
- Mulch applied too thickly can cause problems. A wood-derived mulch may undergo high-temperature decomposition causing it to dry out. The mulch may then be colonized by fungi that create water repellent conditions throughout the mulch. Water is unable to penetrate the mulch and reach the soil and plants fail to receive adequate moisture. Mulching too deeply can also cause the soil to remain continuously wet contributing to root and stem rot problems in addition to depriving plants of needed oxygen. Apply a mulch layer no more than 1 to 3 inches thick.
- Thoroughly water newly installed wood or bark mulches. Many good quality mulches are stored in large piles that reach high temperatures. When the mulch is spread or bagged, the high-temperature tolerant microorganisms that inhabit the mulch die as the mulch cools. If the mulch is allowed to dry out or remain dry, nuisance fungi can colonize the mulch and create a water-repellent surface.
- Add a source of nitrogen to garden soils before applying wood–derived mulches. Soil microorganisms that decompose organic materials such as wood-based mulches are effective competitors for limited soil nitrogen. This may cause temporary nitrogen deficiencies, especially in annual and perennial plants. Yellowing of leaves often indicates a nitrogen deficiency. Lightly incorporate a source of nitrogen such as blood meal, urea or a high nitrogen lawn fertilizer before applying mulch.
At Rapid Lawn Landscape Solutions Ltd. Ltd. we know it’s nice to work with a team who can design and execute your project, but who also carries all the landscaping supplies you need to get started.
We carry top-quality products and stand behind what we sell. Come check out our supply of landscaping products
Your One Stop Regina Landscape Supply Shop
Landscape supplies Include:
- topsoil
- sand
- gravel
- compost
- fertilizers
- mulch
- multiple varieties of rocks and pebbles
- landscape bricks and stones
Contact us for more information on the benefits of mulch and to help you plan that backyard oasis!
Rapid Lawn Landscape Solutions Ltd. Ltd. is your one-stop Regina landscaping company. We have experience working on several large and small-scale commercial projects. Our equipment and our team are ready to tackle a variety of commercial landscaping jobs from snow removal to hydroseeding and anything in between. We also have access to an extensive network of professionals across Saskatchewan and Canada so give us a call to get your project started.
In addition to landscape design, hardscaping and artificial turf, we also do conventional seeding and are suppliers of landscape supply products. We sell all types of turfgrass seed, native grass seed and low maintenance grass seed products.
Our professional Trusted Regina hydroseeding and landscaping team offers innovative re-vegetation, grass seeding, dust control, reclamation, landscaping and erosion control solutions and hydroseeding for all types of residential, commercial, government, industrial and oilfield projects.
