Adding mulch to your garden and flower beds in the fall protects your plants during the cold winter months. This helps ensure that your perennials survive the winter and grow back in the spring. Read on to learn more about choosing the right mulch for your landscaping, including how much mulch you should spread over the soil.
What Type of Mulch is Best?
Mulch refers to any shredded material that is spread across the soil. Mulch can be made of many different materials, including newspaper clippings, leaves, compost, wood chips, or even rubber. Organic mulch breaks down over time and adds nutrients to the soil, which is why many gardeners and landscapers prefer to work with organic mulch over inorganic options (such as rubber).
Mulch conserves moisture, insulates the soil, and can even deter some pests and critters, making it a must-have for your flower and garden beds. Adding mulch to your soil in the fall means your beds will be ready to go in the spring! Wood chip mulch is durable, seedless, and aesthetically pleasing, which is why many homeowners prefer mulching with wood chips over leaves or grass clippings.
How Much Mulch Should I Use?
Wood chip mulch acts as a cozy winter coat, trapping air close to the soil and keeping roots warm during the freeze/thaw cycle. However, too much of a good thing isn’t always a great idea! Mulch should be spread evenly across the soil and should only be 3” deep. Stems and stumps need to breathe, so leave a 3”–4” gap around plants. Avoid creating a “mulch volcano” around your trees—a shallow, even layer is all you need! If your home is exposed to a lot of wind, consider adding a wind barrier or cover mulch with chicken wire to prevent it from blowing across your yard.
Mulch not only protects your soil and plants, but it also adds visual interest to your yard! O’Neill Wood Resources is your source for natural, cedar, and dyed wood mulch in Alda, NE. Visit our website to see our full selection, and call (308) 384-1690 to arrange for delivery or pick-up.