Benefits of Fall Mulch in the Landscape

September 9, 2013 | By webadmin

Now that night temperatures are dropping and fall is just around the corner, it's a great time to start those fall cleanup projects. One of our top fall projects is putting down fresh mulch in the entire landscape. The high heat of summer quickens the breakdown of organic matter, so you'll probably notice that you could use fresh mulch come this time of the year. Not only is mulch a good thing in the garden, it also makes your entire landscape look tidy, clean and fresh.

Using mulch in the landscape has many great benefits. One of the biggest benefits of mulch is that it suppresses weed seed germination and growth. Weed competition can be tough on your landscape plants; the last thing you want is all those pesky weeds taking up water and nutrients meant for your chosen plants!

Mulch is a master at helping to conserve moisture in the soil. It protects your plant's roots from drying too quickly and cuts down on evaporation. We're all trying to save water these days and mulch is a must in that endeavor.

Another great benefit of mulch is its ability to moderate fluctuations in soil temperature. It helps keep soil cooler during times of high heat; warmer during the winter months. This can be especially helpful when we experience large temperature swings, as we're apt to do here in North Texas. And finally, mulch adds back organic matter to your soil as it decomposes.

There are a number of mulches to choose from and the right one for you will depend on the type of plants you have in your landscape and your design aesthetic. Shredded hardwood and cedar mulches are both excellent options for North Texas. Shredded hardwood has a dark brown color, while cedar is a reddish brown. Pine straw mulch can be used for plants that prefer more acidic soil and it also is a great material for natural pathways.

If you have xeriscape or low water usage plants in your landscape, you can even top dress with landscape pebbles, decorative stone or decomposed granite (hardscape mulches). Plants like lavender and agaves prefer that excess moisture be kept away from their crowns and so are good candidates for "hardscape" mulches.

If you're ready for your fall landscape cleanup, give us a call today and we'll get your garden fall-ready!