Not only does mulch add a decorative finish to your flower beds, creating a canvas to showcase colorful blooms, it also helps keep soil cool and moist, thus reducing the need for manual watering. The addition of a 3 inch layer of mulch atop your garden soil will also contribute greatly to weed suppression. Including an application of a pre-emergent herbicide or corn gluten meal will discouraged weed seeds from germinating and growing. And, I’m sure we can all agree, weeding is a chore nobody likes to do! So, which mulch should you use?
Pine Bark Mulch – Pine mulches is one of the best types of mulch for plants. As it breaks down it enriches the soil with nutrients.
Shredded hardwood – This is by far the most popular mulch. It has a dark color and knits together well so that it does not easily wash away.
Cocoa Mulch – Cocoa mulch provides a nice clean look with a delicious chocolate scent. It is, however, not recommended if you own a dog.
MULCH FACTS:
- 1 cubic yard of shredded hardwood mulch will cover 150 square feet of area to a depth of 2 inches. We recommend a 2 to 3 inch depth to receive the best results.
- There are 27 cubic feet in 1 cubic yard.
- Compost is an excellent soil amendment but is not a replacement for mulch.
- When applied correctly, mulches improve garden appearance, reduce the growth of weeds, prevent soil moisture evaporation and maintain consistent soil temperatures.
- When fully decomposed, mulches will improve the soil structure and add nutrients back into the earth.
