Fall is the perfect time to start working on your Central Florida landscape and mulch should play a vital role. Mulch is an easy and cost effective way to ensure your garden and landscape stays healthy through the cooler months.
Many of the plants, shrubs, and trees, here in Central Florida don’t cope very well in our colder weather. Instead of having to replace plants, shrubs, and trees because they didn’t make it through the winter, just apply mulch. It’s a great investment!
Maintain soil temperature
Mulch acts as a blanket, insulating the root system for your plants. Creating a barrier between the cold surface and the root system. It also adds aesthetic value to your home.
Weed control
Apply organic mulching the fall will help prevent weeds from popping up when the temperature gets warmer. Mulch around plants and walkways to reduce weed growth.
Moisture retention
It can get pretty dry during the fall and winter months, mulch helps retain moisture and prevent water from evaporating quickly.
Improve soil structure
As organic mulch breaks down it adds nutrients and vital organic matter into the soil, improving the structure. This will enhance drainage, help the roots establish, and allow water and air to penetrate the ground more easily.
Don’t ignore bare soil, according to HGTV
Researchers are finding mulching has significant environmental benefits. Having bare soil on your property will cause erosion and sediment runoff, says Susan D. Day, an associate professor in the Department of Forest Resources & Conservation and Department of Horticulture at Virginia Tech.
Mulching can help control erosion. Research by Day and Virginia Tech graduate student David Mitchell found that bare soil lost about five times as much sediment as soils covered with mulch.
Most importantly, according to HGTV, get your mulch from a reliable source! Individual bags on sale at a big box store are not always the best choice. They also aren’t always the easiest on the wallet.
Reliable Peat has a large selection of organic mulch, rocks, and soil. The easiest way to purchase organic mulch or stone is by bulk and having it delivered.
