Mulch is a very beneficial addition to your landscape

plants and flower beds. It prevents many weeds and

grasses from sprouting by blocking sunlight from the

soil, it helps to retain moisture in the soil around the

root zone, and it can keep soil up to 10 degrees

cooler in the summer to reduce plant stress. But, to

get all of these benefits from mulch, it has to be ap-

plied correctly.

First, any weeds should be cleared from planting

beds before mulch is applied. Next, beds should be

edged 3” to 4” deep with a sharp spade (this helps to

keep nearby turfgrass from sending new shoots up

through the mulch. When applying mulch, it’s impor-

tant not to overdo it. A 2” to 4” layer is enough to

slow down weeds, conserve moisture and moderate

soil temperatures. Any more than that can keep the

soil too wet and reduce the amount of oxygen that

gets to the roots. Mulch also shouldn’t be placed

against tree and shrub trunks and stems, since this

can bring on diseases by keeping the plant bases too

moist. Applied properly, mulch can help to keep your

landscape plants and flower beds looking and grow-

ing their best all season long!

Al landscape areas should be cleaned up in the

spring for aesthetics and the health of your land-

scape. Trees, shrubs (except spring blooming ones),

brambles and roses should be pruned. Old growth

on perennials should be cut back and discarded. It’s

also a good time to rake out any dropped leaves and

other debris from the landscape beds along with

dad weeds. These are overwintering spots for both

insects and disease.

So start the season right with a good clean-up and

mulch to get your landscape shaping up this Spring!

Don’t want to spend hours outside this spring

mulching and tidying up your landscape, hire the

professionals at Shannon Lawn and Landscaping.

We service Easton, CT, Fairfield, CT, Trumbull, CT,

Shelton, CT, Stratford, CT, Milford, CT, Orange, CT

Woodbridge, CT, Seymour, CT, Oxford, CT, Monroe,

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