When most people think of landscaping, they think of planting trees, shrubs, and additional ornamental features. What most people don’t consider is that mulching and the process of mulching are just as important as watering a lawn.
While it might seem like a basic process, mulching can help your lawn retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate the temperature of the roots. Let’s discover other ways this simple task can help your lawn.
Mulch Can Protect Your Lawn Against The Cold Weather
When you mulch during the winter months, you can help protect your plants from harsh weather conditions. The process helps create a barrier that regulates temperature. This is especially useful for plants braving the tough Michigan winter.
With a layer of mulch, the soil is kept warm, thereby reducing any root damage associated with freezing temperatures.
What Is Winter Mulch?
Most would be surprised to know that mulch can be classified by its material and season. You can get organic and inorganic mulch. However, for the winter months, you are better off using organic mulch.
Organic mulch, as it degrades, provides vital heat to the soil bed. There is a wide range of useful materials with which to mulch. You can use any of the following:
- Hay
- Straw
- Shredded leaves
- Pine needles
- Nutshells
- Bark chips
These organic materials are suited due to their coarse texture. The texture allows for sufficient water and air to flow through while also providing adequate insulation. Furthermore, these loose materials, particularly straw and hay, insulate the ground without compacting under the weight of ice or snow.
Mulch Can Enrich Your Soil
Apart from being a great insulator against the cold, mulch can help enrich the soil. When you mulch using organic matter, you get the benefit of protecting your plants from frost and adding nutrients back into the soil as the organic material decomposes. This soil enrichment process helps promote the growth of beneficial fungi and bacteria, two ingredients crucial for soil health and nutrient cycling. Using organic mulch can improve the soil’s structure and fertility, enabling plants to thrive even in the Michigan cold.When To Apply Mulch
When whittled down to its simplest form, landscaping is all about finding the right balance between things. This means watering, mowing, weeding, and mulching in the right amounts. While mulch can be beneficial, it can also be damaging when done incorrectly or at the wrong time.
When you mulch for winter, you need to wait until the first hard frost of the season. The temperature is usually below 29 F. With every drop in temperature, the potential for damage to your plants increases.
You also have to consider other factors such as the plant variety, length of freeze, and amount of moisture in the air. When you mulch too early, you inadvertently cause undue stress to your plants, weakening them. Incorrect mulching can also make your plants more susceptible to the cold.
You should always apply mulch at least 3 inches away from the base of shrubs. If you’re mulching plants, you should give at least 2 inches of space for the roots. The amount of mulch you add will depend on your growing conditions and the type of mulch used.
Apart from the benefits your landscaping efforts can gain with organic mulch, you should know that it will decompose and eventually settle. To this end, you need to remove winter mulch as soon as the chance of a hard frost has passed.
TIP: Apply a 4-inch layer of mulch using compost, shredded leaves, and other fine-textured materials. With coarser materials, leave a 6-inch layer.
Conclusion
When you mulch, ensure you do it in the right place and at the right time. Mulch for shrubs and trees will differ from mulch for delicate plants or vegetable plots. Furthermore, you are better off using organic materials for mulch, as they can help improve plant health and soil.Inorganic material, on the other hand, only helps insulate the soil from the frost, providing no additional nutrients to plants and shrubs.
Call NowSERVICES
- Landscaping
- Fire Pits
- Patios
- Tree Service
- Pavers
- Irrigation
- French Drains
- Outdoor Lighting
- Stump Grinding
- Hardscaping
- Outdoor Kitchens
- Retaining Walls
- Aeration & Overseeding
- Lawn Mowing
- Leaf Removal
- Sod Installation
- Artificial Turf
- Snow Removal
SERVICE AREAS
- Newaygo
- Ensley
- Sheridan Center
- Rockford
- Croton
- Fremont
- Big Rapids
- Pierson
- Twin Lake
- Howard City
- Grant
- Stanwood
- Canadian Lakes
- White Cloud
- Cedar Springs
- Whitehall
- Sparta
- Big Prairie
- Aetna
Contact Us Now!
"*" indicates required fields