What’s Mulch Got To Do With It?

 

Want to save money and spend less time watering your flower beds? One of the easiest things you can do is add a good layer of mulch!

Sometimes called “nature’s moisturizer,” mulch helps conserve moisture in the soil—and that’s only one of the benefits it brings to your landscape.

 

 
 

What Is Mulch?

 

Mulch is any material spread over the surface of the soil around your plants. Shredded wood, pine straw, shredded leaves, pecan hulls, and gravel are just a few examples.

A good layer of mulch provides several benefits for your landscape:

• Helps retain soil moisture. Mulch slows evaporation from the soil, which can help reduce how quickly your flower beds dry out during our hot East Texas weather.

• Protects plant roots from temperature extremes. Mulch helps insulate the soil from summer heat and winter cold.

• Helps suppress weeds. A proper layer of mulch blocks sunlight from reaching many weed seeds and makes it more difficult for them to become established.

• Gives your landscape a finished look. Mulch adds color and texture to the spaces between plants and instantly makes flower beds look cleaner and more polished.

• Can improve your soil over time. Organic mulches such as shredded bark and leaves gradually break down and add organic matter to the soil.

 
 

How Much Mulch Do I Need?

 

 

One of the questions we hear most often is, “How much mulch do I need for my flower bed?”

1. Measure your bed. Multiply the length by the width to find the total square footage.

2. Decide how deep your mulch needs to be. For most landscape beds, a layer approximately 2–3 inches deep is a good goal.

3. Calculate how much you need. At a depth of 3 inches, one cubic foot of mulch covers approximately 4 square feet.

Example: If your flower bed measures 10 feet by 5 feet, you have 50 square feet to cover. Divide 50 by 4, and you’ll need approximately 12.5 cubic feet of mulch for a 3-inch layer.

Or just give us your measurements and let us help you calculate it!

 
 

Don’t Pile Mulch Against Your Plants

 

One important word of caution: don’t mound mulch against the trunks of trees or the crowns and stems of your plants. Keeping these areas constantly moist can encourage rot, disease, and other problems.

Instead, spread mulch evenly throughout the bed and leave a little breathing room around trunks and stems. And definitely skip the dreaded “mulch volcano” around your trees!

 
 

Keep Your Mulch Fresh

 

Organic mulch naturally decomposes over time, so periodically check your beds to make sure you still have even coverage at the proper depth.

You don’t necessarily need to completely replace your mulch every year. If plenty remains, loosen any compacted areas and add only enough fresh mulch to bring the bed back to the appropriate depth.

Shredded bark mulch can be purchased in bags or, for larger projects, in bulk quantities.

 

Mulch is one of the simplest ways to help conserve moisture, suppress weeds, protect your plants, and give your landscape a beautiful finished look. Stop by The Home & Garden Center and let us help you find the right mulch—and the right amount—for your flower beds!