Even folks who do lots of gardening work can be surprised by the versatility and usefulness of mulch. It is important to understand the main ways that such a simple product can fit into your plans for a yard. These four uses are among the most valuable.

Weed Control

Weeds generally thrive in environments where they can quickly access the sky and start photosynthesis. Consequently, there's immense value in making that process harder. Especially if you're trying to give less aggressive plants enough time to put down roots and grow, mulching can often keep weeds at bay.

Although there are no guarantees that weeds won't grow, they typically have a tougher time working up through the mulch to reach the surface. Likewise, many of the tree species used for mulching have chemicals in their wood that disturb the growth of other plants.

Limiting Evaporation

Mulch also serves as something of a cheap vapor barrier. In the case of a garden, the goal is to hold the water in the ground. Particularly if you're planting in sunny, windy, or dry locations, you may want to order a mulch delivery. The layer will keep moisture in the ground longer when the day gets drier in the afternoon. it also can provide extra surfaces to trap humidity during the dampness of the morning or rain storms. On balance, a good layer of mulch can usually keep the soil surrounding a plant moister.

Color

Especially if you're just putting plants in the ground, some locations aren't going to look very exciting visually. Adding a spot of color can go a long way toward making a space full of churned dirt look prettier and more organized. Mulch can serve this role.

Colorful mulching is also a useful addition in gardens that are very green without much else happening. Installing mulch around a group of hostas, for example, can provide a background to show off their green leaves and distinctive shapes. It also can separate the plants from the surrounding greenery, allowing them to stand out more.

Nutrients

While most forms of mulch aren't meant to break down rapidly, the material will still decompose over time. This creates a slow release of nutrients, an especially beneficial option when you're initially installing new plants. The environmental breakdown of mulch can take months or years, providing sustained nutrition as the plants in the middle of a garden bed begin to expand.

For more information, contact a mulch delivery service near you.

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