Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Use Mulch in Your Garden

Mulch is a great way to keep plants healthy and increase the lifespan of your garden. Mulch helps control weeds, retains moisture in the soil, and protects plants from excessive heat. If you have not mulched yet this year, here are 5 reasons why it should be on your agenda!

Summary

Mulch lessens weed development by obstructing light that would ordinarily advance weeds development.
A layer of mulch will help retain moisture in the soil which ensures that plants don’t dry out during long periods without rain or watering.
Mulching Improves your garden’s overall soil quality over time.
Mulching keeps roots cool by reflecting radiant heat away from them which protects against damage caused by excessive heat.
Stimulating root development when applied at the base of trees or other garden features like flowers or shrubs.

Mulch lessens weed development by obstructing light that would ordinarily advance weeds development.

Mulch helps stop or at least slow down the growth of weeds by using up nutrients and water before plants can access them. Mulching lessens the amount of sunlight available for plants too, so they won’t need as much time between watering as if they were unprotected. This decrease in moisture levels during dry spells causes some weed species to die out without any direct contact. Once a certain threshold has been reached though (such as when we’re talking about perennials), then it’s best if you pull those weeds instead of trying to cover their bases with an extensive layer of mulch.

— A layer of mulch will help retain moisture in the soil which ensures that plants don't dry out during long periods without rain or watering.

This method is often used in organic gardening, where they make use of all-natural materials like straw or shredded bark from trees for mulching. Mulches are typically applied to garden beds and other formal plantings while leaving lawns bare with a “no-mow” policy thereby saving time on caring for them. This also helps reduce weed growth because these undesirable plants can’t thrive when deprived of sunlight by living under layers of thick, dark material. You should consider using compost as a type of natural fertilizer combined with your choice of mulch; this combination will promote healthy roots and plants.

— Mulching keeps roots cool by reflecting radiant heat away from them which protects against damage caused by excessive heat.

This is especially helpful for plants that grow best in hotter climates, such as roses and tomatoes. Mulch can reduce soil temperature by up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit or more (this process is called “thermal insulation”), which helps plants in their growing cycle. Mulching also prevents the decline of moisture content and reduces weed growth, thereby keeping your garden looking better for longer periods of time.

— Mulching Improves your garden's overall soil quality over time.

Mulch helps to prevent weeds from growing and excels at conserving moisture in the ground, which means that plants need less water while they’re actively growing. The mulch also prevents light from reaching weed seeds so these can’t grow as easily (a win-win situation for both you and Mother Nature!). The decomposing process of mulches releases nutrients into the soil too, providing a natural source for plant growth without having to add extra fertilizers! In addition to this, leaf mold or other organic sources make great natural additions when creating homemade compost that can be used on plants later in their life cycle. The process of planting also benefits greatly with mulching because there are no large rocks or twigs that can damage tender plant roots when tilling the soil underneath them for planting. Additionally, it’s much easier to work around plants if you’re using organic methods like straw bales instead of synthetic plastics or other materials which may be harmful once they’ve been sitting on top of your garden for an extended period of time.

— Stimulating root development when applied at the base of trees or other garden features like flowers or shrubs.

Mulching does not just have to be a step in the garden plan, but it also can help prevent weeds from growing at all if applied correctly. Not only is mulch effective for your plants and soil, but it’s also cost-effective because you’re buying less of other fertilizers or pesticides that may harm your plant’s long term. Mulches are made with organic materials like leaves, straw, or wood chips which decompose overtime when they’ve been sitting on top of the ground so there will be no leftover chemicals after their use has ceased.