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Ultimate Guide to Mulch: What and Why It’s Used

If you are new to gardening–and landscaping in general–mulch is a word you are going to see come up again and again. Whether you are reading advice in magazines or on the internet, you’ll consistently find people who are singing the praises of mulch and what it can do for your land. 

But what is mulch used for? And why is it so important? We’d like to get back to the basics in this article and carefully explain what mulch is and why it matters. Spending just a few minutes of your time to read through the content below will go a long way toward making you a better gardener. And, when you are finished, get in touch with TLC if you have questions or if you’d like to get help with mulch on your landscape. 

What is Mulch?

To define mulch you first need to understand that it is used to cover soil. If you have a section of bare dirt in your garden, and you would like to cover it up (more on those reasons later), you will want to use mulch. 

We can use many materials as mulch, so simply going to the local nursery and saying you’d like to buy some “mulch” won’t narrow it down. It will be helpful to get familiar with the most popular options, so you can understand what is available when you are ready to get started. Here are some mulch options to consider –

  • Cut grass. When you are left with a pile of clippings after mowing your lawn, you may want to use some of those clippings as mulch elsewhere on your property. 
  • Bark. One of the most popular mulch options, bark looks great and performs well when used as mulch. 
  • Leaves. This is another popular pick, in part because leaves work great as mulch, and in part because you can probably collect them for free. It is helpful to shred the leaves before using them for this purpose. 
  • Stones. While not a traditional mulch in terms of some of its limitations, small stones can work well to cover soil when you want excellent drainage and minimal maintenance. 

The Benefits of Proper Mulching

As you can see, there are different materials that can be used as mulch.This is because of the many roles that mulch can play on your land. The right material for the job is going to depend on what you want to accomplish.

One primary reason to use mulch is to return nutrients to the soil. When that is the goal, you’ll need organic materials such as shredded leaves, or even compost. As those materials break down over time, they’ll release valuable nutrients into the ground, and the quality of your soil will improve. 

Mulch is also useful as an insulator to protect the roots of vulnerable plants when cold weather moves in. With a thick layer of mulch in place, the roots and the groundwater that surrounds them won’t freeze as easily as they would otherwise. With this goal, a mulch that is easy to apply in thick layers – such as bark – will work nicely. 

So, when picking a mulch for your gardens, it’s not a matter of finding the “best” mulch – but rather finding the one that is the right fit for what you hope to accomplish. This task might seem a little intimidating at first, but it will get easier as you gain experience and become more familiar with the various options and what they have to offer. 
The Jackson, WY area is a great place to own land, and it is a great place to craft a beautiful landscape that you can enjoy for years to come. Most likely, you’ll want mulch to play a role in the work you do on that land, so we hope this article has been a helpful springboard in the world of mulch and what it can do for you. Thanks for visiting and don’t hesitate to contact us for help with any upcoming landscaping projects.