It’s Mulch Time!

Planning some outdoor summer parties? An easy way to make your front and back yard look stunning is to mulch.

Organic mulching not only makes your yard look spectacular but has many benefits to your garden from improving soil health, retaining water moisture and temperature levels for your garden, preventing disease, and hiding and preventing unsightly weed growth.

You can mulch in the spring, summer, or fall and it’s recommended to mulch once a year or anytime your mulch layer is less than two inches.

Selecting Mulch

The size of your mulch will result in different effects for your garden. Finer mulch decomposes faster and enriches the soil quicker, while coarser mulch lasts longer and is better for weed control. Mulch also comes in various colors including natural, red, or black. Choose what you feel will work best for your aesthetic.

How to Mulch

You will need a wheelbarrow, shovel, gloves, and rake to mulch your garden. You can buy mulch at the local nursery. When your mulch arrives, place it on a tarp so that you can easily clean up afterwards. Define and clear the area that you want to mulch of weeds, debris, and older mulch. Use the wheelbarrow to transport the mulch to the area in your garden where you need it. Spread the mulch evenly on top of your soil up to 4 inches thick. For trees, leave an inch or two space between the tree trunk and where the mulch starts so that the tree bark has some breathing room. When you mulch under the tree you can extend the mulch all the way to the drip line of the tree branches but many people do not extend the mulch that far.

You can use your rake to even the mulch out and lightly water it after you are done. Try to avoid mulch volcanos and keep the mulch only up to 4 inches thick. Monitor your mulch regularly and replenish as often as needed.

Not ready to do it yourself?Use Homestock to find a pro to help you get it done quickly!