Mulch is really important for any garden, not only does it conserve moisture and enhance plants, it’s also an erosion buster! If you’re having a weed problem, mulch helps by stopping weeds from taking root. On hot days, the mulch helps shade the roots of your plants.

The first thing when it comes to applying mulch is do you want organic or inorganic? Organic mulch is wood, bark, compost, leaves, and grass clippings. It will eventually decompose and improve the soil as it’s decomposing. Stone is a more permanent mulch. It’s a low-maintenance option but it’s not easy to plant in. When choosing a mulch, you need to decide if you will need to do any gardening that requires digging and moving the mulch around. If so, choosing an organic mulch would be a better option.

Now you need to pick the right mulch, since every mulch is different. For example, bark nuggets can float away if there is heavy rain. Cocoa hulls have an aroma, but are expensive and are toxic to dogs. Most choose shredded bark or wood, as it’s inexpensive and easy to apply. The con is that it doesn’t add as many nutrients to the soil as other mulches.

If you’re on a budget, you can use your yard waste as mulch. Grass clippings, leaves, and compost are all good mulch. Although compost adds tonnes of nutrients, it isn’t very good at keeping weeds at bay. Grass clippings can be effective, but don’t pile them too deeply because they can get soggy. Remember not to use grass clippings that have been treated with herbicides. If you decide to use leaves, make sure to shred them first. Pine needles are a great choice because they last a long time, and work well with azaleas (and other acid-loving plants), since pine needles acidify soil.

Don’t spread the mulch too thickly, and don’t spread it too thinly, either. Spread the mulch 2-3 inches thick. If it’s thicker, it could attract pests. You can apply mulch any time, as there isn’t a specific time you need to mulch your plants. Plants will accept mulch any time of the year. If you decide to apply mulch in the winter, wait until the ground freezes before mulching.

Photos: Eco Pro Mulch, Look Home Design, The Floor Decor.

Getting that perfect lawn doesn’t require magic or even toxic fertilizers. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is! Read our 5 simple tips and you’ll be on the road to a perfect lawn that will make your neighbors green with jealousy!

1. Getting Rid of Yellow Patches

Those yellow patches you see on your lawn are usually just the result of a low spot, which means the dirt there is lower than the rest of your yard. These spots appear after a heavy rain, and the grass suffocates in the standing water. You can try spreading a layer of compost over the spot to raise it up to the level as the rest of the lawn. You should soon see new grass start to sprout. But what about yellow patches from our beloved pets? There is a few things you can do to fix this problem. You can water the area thoroughly after your dog has urinated on the spot, or you can add regular household sugar to the patch. The high carbon in sugar neutralizes the high nitrogen in dog urine. Just throw a handful of sugar over the spot and you should soon see new grass start to grow!

2. Don’t Cut the Grass too Short

Grass cut short responds by growing faster. Don’t cut more than a third of the grass’ height at one time. If you cut any deeper, you’re damaging the grass, and will take a few mowing cycles to recover fully.

3. Leave the Clippings

Don’t bother raking and bagging the clippings – leave them where they fall. The clippings will fertilize the soil, and if you cut your grass often, they’ll be short and work their way back into the grass without leaving a mess.

4. Don’t Mow a Wet Lawn

You should never mow a lawn while it’s wet because the water will compact the soil and then the roots won’t be able to breathe. The grass will die and you will start to see bald patches on your lawn.

5. Water Well, But Infrequently

If you water your lawn daily, it encourages shallow roots and will waste water. Here are 3 ways to check if your lawn needs watering: the grass has a blue tinge, the soil resists when you push a screwdriver into it, and footprints on the lawn remain compressed.

6. Getting Rid of Weeds

The best way to get rid of weeds is to grow thick grass. By taking care of your lawn and observing it closely, the problem can resolve itself. If you only have a few weeds, simply pull them out.

7. Don’t Water Your Grass at Night

The best time to water your grass is pre-dawn or early morning. Watering at night doesn’t let the grass dry out before the dew falls, and prolonged moisture puts your grass at risk for disease.

Photos: Call Northwest, Speciality Lawn Care GA, Go Mow.