Why Mulch Is An Important Addition To Your Garden

How Will Mulch Help Your Garden To Flourish And Why Is It So Important?

Much like the forest floor, mulch helps to reduce the amount of moisture lost from the topsoil, foster microbial activity in the topsoil, prevent the growth of weeds and enhance aesthetics. Thus, it does more than merely help topsoil to retain water. It can additionally reduce erosion in your garden and in nature overall.

Preserving Moisture - Moisture control is one of the most important benefits which can be gained from using this natural garden addition. Without a sufficient layer of mulch (4" or 100mm), the wind and sun can cause the top portion of your garden soil to quickly dry out, which will place your plants under much of unnecessary stress. You can dramatically reduce the natural evaporation rate by adding such physical barrier and when there are water restrictions in place, less water usage can be very beneficial to both the environment and your wallet. We commonly get complaints about plants which are not growing properly only to discover upon a visit to the garden that there is no topsoil covering and thus, dry soil, crusting and very minimal water penetration.

Preventing The Weed Growth - With a physical barrier on your topsoil, weeds can be effectively deterred from growing in your garden. After a seed germinates and reaches the surface of the garden soil it will need plenty of sunlight in order to photosynthesize or produce necessary nutrients for its growth. When a natural topsoil covering is present, this will prevent a majority of weed issues which makes it possible for plants to flourish in the absence of competition. You should not use plastic beneath your mulch as it will not allow water and gases to pass into the topsoil and will ultimately, hinder the growth of you plants. We recommend using "Weed Stop".

Moderating Temperature - Temperature moderation is yet another benefit such physical barrier will supply. Topsoil in our Queensland climate will usually absorb a very substantial amount of heat causing major damage to the sensitive roots of plants laying near the surface of the soil if there is no mulch in place. It can even moderate colder temperatures in areas where mild frost is prone to developing, keeping the garden an ideal environment for producing optimal plant growing.

Replacing Organic Matter - The natural breakdown of this physical barrier enables it to maintain its open free draining structure, something which can be seen when strolling through any bushland or rainforest where the ground is layered with organic materials in various states of decay. This is nature's way of composting.

Here Is How A Topsoil Covering Works In Your Garden

There is one very popular and valid question people have given the broad variety options which are available. In the end, all mulch types will generally do the same job in terms of moderating moisture, weed growth and extreme soil temperatures. More often than not, an individual's selection will be based upon the texture, colour and purchasing price as it relates to the budget for such expense.

There is a range of questions you can ask, however, which will help you to select the ideal option for your specific needs:

• Are you attempting to coordinate this product with any other element of your garden or landscaping designs?
• Have you spotted a type you really like on a neighbouring property?
• Do you prefer such materials to be fine or coarse?
• Is your garden down the back or a show garden?