Mulching Benefits & Measurements for Landscaping

APPLICATION AND BENEFITS OF MULCHING

Mulching is one of the most important ways to maintain healthy landscape plants. A mulch is any material applied to the soil surface for protection or improvement of the area covered. Mulching is really nature's idea. Nature produces large quantities of mulch all the time with fallen leaves, needles, twigs, pieces of bark, spent flower blossoms, fallen fruit and other organic material.

How much mulch should I apply?

As a general rule of thumb, you should apply mulch at a depth of 2-4 inches. Use less mulch for heavy, clay soils and more for lighter, sandy soils.

Will termites interact with mulch?

Termites tend to interact with most forms of cellulose wood fiber regardless of the source or type. However, mulch is an unattractive source of food because of its small particle size (termites tend to prefer larger masses of wood). If homeowners have problems with termites in their area, the best course of action is preventative care. When placing mulch around a home, common recommendations include keeping a six inch trench between the top of the mulch and the veneer on the house. An additional preventative measure includes dusting the trench with a termite treatment on a yearly basis.

Is mulch detrimental to plant growth?

No. Using mulch will actually help your plants grow better by inhibiting weed growth and preventing weeds from breaking through the soil. Mulch also keeps the soil surface cool and helps it retain moisture. Another added bonus is the beauty and variety that mulch brings to your landscape.

How often is re-mulching required?

Raking the mulch at 4-6 month intervals will rejuvenate the beds and allow additional aeration to plant roots, which is beneficial for plant growth. After about a year (and on a yearly basis thereafter), rake the mulch bed, then top dress it with 1-2" of new mulch. Use care not to over-mulch.

Outer Banks and Currituck Mulching

When applied correctly, mulch has the following beneficial effects on plants and soil:

• Mulches prevent loss of water from the soil by evaporation.
  
  
• Mulches reduce the growth of weeds, when the mulch material itself is weed-free and applied deeply enough to prevent weed germination or to smother existing weeds. Mulches keep the soil cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, thus maintaining a more even soil temperature.

• Mulches prevent soil splashing, which not only stops erosion but keeps soil-borne diseases from splashing up onto the plants. Organic mulches can improve the soil structure. As the mulch decays, the material becomes topsoil. Decaying mulch also adds nutrients to the soil.

• Mulches prevent crusting of the soil surface, thus improving the absorption and movement of water into the soil.

• Mulches prevent the trunks of trees and shrubs from damage by lawn equipment.

• Mulches help prevent soil compaction.

• Mulches can add to the beauty of the landscape by providing a cover of uniform color and interesting texture to the surface.

• Mulched plants have more roots than plants that are not mulched, because mulched plants will produce additional roots in the mulch that surrounds them.