Mulch in your yard may be an extra step you can take, but it will add visual interest to your landscaping and also provide you with great improvement to the landscaping condition and its appearance. There are several rules and guidelines to follow to have good success with your mulch management. Here are some tips you can use in your yard to apply and maintain your mulching.

When to Apply Mulch 

Whether you have existing landscaping plants and trees in your yard already or you are planning to add in new vegetation, by adding mulch to your yard you can help benefit your vegetation and the soil in many ways. However, when you apply the mulch can make a big difference in the outcome and the health of your plants. Exposed soil in your bedding areas is susceptible to damage from erosion, weed growth, and exposure to extreme temperatures.

Mulch provides an insulative barrier against the cold of winter and also the heat of the summer sun. Apply a new layer of mulch in the fall to supplement any thin areas or to add in a new mulch layer. Make sure the layer is at least a couple of inches thick. Depending on the size of the mulch pieces, you should apply a thicker layer with larger pieces and a thinner layer with finer mulch pieces. 

In the early spring, you should apply new mulch and supplement materials to your exposed soil. However, make sure you don't apply the mulch too early in the spring. Mulch covering can protect the soil but it will also slow the soil's warming in the spring and will affect when your plants begin to sprout. If you are planting new seedlings or seeds, apply the mulch later in the spring or wait until your plants have begun to sprout.

Choose Your Mulching Material

The type of mulch material you add to your landscaping should be based on several different elements. Consider the type of vegetation you will be planting in the area and also the climate you live in. The type of vegetation is going to dictate the size of mulch that will look best, as smaller mulch pieces look better with smaller plants. If, for example, you want to plant a large shrub or tree, larger mulch pieces, such as bark chunks or river rocks look best. 

Organic mulch made of wood chips, bark, or straw will break down over time and need to be replenished more frequently, but they add to the nutrients in your soil. Inorganic mulch made of gravel, decorative rock, and rubber mulch will hold up better and not need replenishing as often.

To learn more about mulching, contact a landscaper in your area.