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Common
benefits and uses for Premium Hemlock, Boston Bark, Garden
Mulch, and Bark Fines.
Decorative
Ground Cover
One of the greatest benefits of using landscape mulch is for
esthetics in the landscape. Uniformly screened mulch can provide
a beautiful cover around plant material that provides color
contrast or enhancement along with a clean and neat appearance.
Mulch easily covers uneven ground to give the landscape a
smooth sculptured look.
Water
Conservation
We all know that reducing the need for water in the landscape
has been an important issue in recent years. A good layer
of mulch will keep the soil at a lower temperature in the
hot summer and reduce the amount of evaporation. Much like
peat moss in soil blends, the natural fibrous characteristics
of mulch helps retain moisture for plants’ roots and
reduces plant stress.
Natural
Weed Barrier
Mulch products are not meant to "kill" weeds but
a thick layer (3 to 4 inch minimum) of mulch will greatly
reduce unwanted weed growth. This natural blanket of mulch
creates an environment that makes it difficult for weed seed
to germinate. If weeds do establish, they will root into the
mulch and be easier to pull out without breaking off the root
system. Sometimes a porous landscape fabric may be used under
the mulch for additional weed protection but never use black
plastic (visqueen). Your soil needs air and moisture, and
visqueen will block it out and eventually sour the soil.
Frost
Protection
Much like the protection mulch will provide in the summer,
mulch will also provide soil insulation in the winter months.
Mulch acts as an insulation blanket that will help protect
the root systems of your plants, especially those with shallow
air roots or surface roots. The porous nature of mulch will
still allow air to pass through to the soil while raising
the freezing depth of the soil, thus reducing the risk of
frost damage to roots.
Erosion
Control
Straw, hydromulch or erosion fences cannot match up to the
performance of mulch for erosion control. Tests show that
a minimum of 3 to 4 inch layer of mulch properly applied to
slopes or any exposed soil will provide immediate and effective
erosion control. The fibers act as millions of tiny dams holding
back the free flow of water carrying silt and sediment. The
surface texture of mulch is effective in dispersing the energy
of raindrops as they hit the ground while the mulch itself
absorbs moisture and then releases it slowly. An added advantage
is that on new construction projects the mulch may later be
tilled in or used as a soil amendment, thus eliminating the
need for additional material to be purchased and applied during
the final landscaping phases.
Beneficial
Microbes (Garden Mulch only)
Compost or products containing compost, like Garden Mulch,
are a good source of biological activity that is necessary
for healthy growth and natural resistance to many plant diseases.
These beneficial microbes work in the soil as tiny agents
transferring nutrients from the soil to the plant’s roots
and protect the roots from certain diseases by colonizing
around them. They come in many forms and are all necessary
for plant growth. The key to this diversity in the soil is
a properly composted material that has the right balance and
level of active microbes. The Ground Effects Compost Specialist holds
a position on the US Composting Council and has many years
of experience in producing the proper compost for many of
our products. Our compost is lab tested for nutrition and
biological balance in the soil foodweb, and we can assure
you that Ground Effects compost is of the highest quality available.
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