Mulch was nature’s creation long before humans started making it. Fallen leaves, pine needles, old wood, vegetation, ripe fruit, rocks, and even animal droppings are all forms of natural mulch that have nourished the earth since the beginning of time. We want to educate homeowners about how mulch can increase your home’s curb appeal and the health of your yard.
1. Here’s Why You Should Use Mulch…
Believe it or not, the truth is that many of the homeowners in West Bloomfield have absolutely no idea why mulch is important.
Some say “I do it because my neighbors do it.” while others say “I think it gives my home curb appeal”. These are great reasons, but it’s clear that our homeowners are missing out on real reasons to install mulch. Neither of these answers hints to the real reasons why homeowners must use mulch at their homes — the improved soil quality, reduced number of weeds, and better absorption of water at your property. Trust us, a fresh layer of mulch will ensure that those stubborn weeds never see the light of day!
2. What Mulch Is Best For Your Home?
Now that you know the history of mulch, let’s find out about the different types of mulch that exist. With so many types available it can be hard to choose the right type , but it’s worth figuring out! Once you know which mulch is best for your home, not only will your yard look great, but your soil will reward you with a colorful, healthy garden!
It’s important to understand that no one mulch is a perfect fit for every homeowner, so as homeowner its good to have an idea of what your yard needs.
- Pine Bark: This is the most common and inexpensive type of mulch. You likely see this used most often. It can come from a variety of trees and it breaks down slowly. Some bark-based mulch is environmentally friendly, while others are known to take nitrogen from the soil. If you have poor soil, this may not be the best option for you
- Pine Needles: Needles are a very environmentally friendly choice for mulching material. They prevent evaporation of water and improve the health of the soil as it decays — this is really important for newer plants. We recommend one application per year to maintain the health of your soil.
- Straw: Straw has an awesome golden color that can compliment any garden. It tends to break down slower than leaves or grass clippings but typically isn’t used for residential gardens. It’s more common in gardens used to grow food.
- Cedar: Cedar is great because it breaks down slower than bark, but it doesn’t stay in place very well. It’s easily washed away by heavy rain and when it does so it is in a boat-like manner. However, cedar chips are bigger than bark so they tend to last longer.
- Leaves: Our Motto is “Don’t bag it!” Leaves are a very valuable natural resource. They contain 50% to 80% of nutrients a plant extracts from the soil and air during the warmer seasons. Therefore, it’s best to lay shredded leaves in your flower beds and take advantage of this FREE mulch!
Final Recommendation: At Odd Jobs, we recommend our homeowners use a mixture of shredded leaves and Pine Bark to get the maximum benefit!
If you’ve found this information useful so far, don’t hesitate to message us to schedule an estimate!
3. Which Mulch Keeps Its Color The Longest?
It’s great to know which mulch will help your yard flourish, but its a pain in the butt to install mulch every year. Knowing which mulch will keep its color for the longest amount of time is crucial to avoid the hassle of installing new mulch each year.
But here’s the cold truth — all mulch that is organic will biodegrade, as it should, and it will change colors each year. Even mulch made from non-organic materials will change color from the physical and chemical weathering. But, if you are truly concerned about the color of your mulch, we recommend the two options below 🙂
Best Non-Organic Option:
- Shredded Rubber
Best Organic Option
- Pine Bark
4. Should I Use Landscape Fabric Under Mulch?
Now that you have an idea of which mulch may work best for your home, here’s another FAQ that homeowners have asked us. And our answer is a big fat NO by the way and there are many reasons why we’re against using fabric.
- Fabric compacts the soil. For soil to be truly healthy it needs to be crumbly and loose. When the soil is under the fabric it becomes hard and compact which makes it almost impossible for digging and planting.
- Weeding becomes a nightmare with fabric. Fabric does reduce the number of weeds in your garden, but a few weeds always manage to creep through so there is only so much added benefit. And, the few weeds that do creep through the fabric get very intertwined and become nearly impossible to remove. Fabric can clutter your flower beds very quickly.
- Lastly, fabric contains chemicals, including petroleum, that is harmful to nearby plants. One thing is for sure — adding fabric under your mulch will put you on the fast-track to having a dull garden!
If you found any of these tips helpful, then connect with us on our Facebook Page. Send us a message to let us know you enjoyed it! Our Facebook page is where we consistently share helpful information for homeowners and update our community on the landscaping work we are doing in the local area.