A while ago our lawn care and landscaping experts

talked about proper summer tree care and mulching

was part of that conversation. Our readers were in-

terested in finding out more about mulch and its cor-

rect applications on the property. Today, our lawn

care Milford, CT experts and their landscaping

Trumbull, CT colleagues want to share their tips and

knowledge on mulching with you.

What is Mulch Exactly?

Mulch is defined as any layer of material used to

cover the ground in order to protect it. We have

talked about the 3-3-3 rule you need to follow when

you lay the mulch on the soil surface, but today we

will get into more details.

Mulch can be organic or synthetic and there is a huge

difference between them:

•

Organic mulch – it is made of natural materials, in-

cluding grass clippings, shredded leaves and bark,

chopped twigs, straws, newspaper shreds, ma-

nure, compost, salt hay and so on.

•

Inorganic mulch can be made of stone or gravel,

landscape fabric or black plastic among others.

Organic mulch decomposes and is quickly absorbed

by the soil, contributing to the roots’ systems fertiliza-

tion. Inorganic mulch doesn’t have to be replaced – it

protects the plants from heat and weeds, but it

doesn’t feed them. Your lawn care Milford, CT team

can help you decide between organic and inorganic

mulch or advise you to use both depending on the

vegetation’s needs.

What Do You Have to Know About Organic

Mulch?

Depending on its ingredients, organic mulch can also

be categorized into two main varieties:

•

Moist, grassy mulch – this organic product you can

make on your own in your back yard contains

moister and more fertile materials such as grass

clippings, manure, seaweed, shredded leaves, and

straws and so on. This is the preferred type of

mulch to use in summer as it acts as a powerful

fertilizer, feeding the soil while keeping it cool and

safe from weeds and pests. This type of mulch

needs regular replacements as it decomposes

quite fast.

•

Hard, dryer mulch – dry organic mulch is usually

made of bark and shredded twigs – it doesn’t de-

compose fast and while it has a decorative and

protective purpose (just like inorganic mulch), it

doesn’t properly feed the soil.

What Are the Main Roles of Mulch on a

Property?

Mulch has plenty of roles on a property and its type

depends plenty on the plants you want to protect.

Moister mulch can be laid in flower beds, around

trees, bushes, shrubs and in vegetable gardens to fer-

tilize the soil, keep them cool against heat and sun-

light, and protect them from pests, weeds and

unintentional accidents caused by gardening tools.

Dryer mulch also keeps the soil cool and is a great

blocking mechanism against weeds, pests, wildlife,

gardening tools and so on.

All types of mulches have an intrinsic decorative pur-

pose. Some mulch types come in an interesting color

palette, adding contrast, texture and depth to your

landscape.

Ask your lawn care Milford, CT experts to offer you

more advice on mulching and have your property

thriving healthily and beautifully.