When it comes to giving your Central Florida landscape and garden a touch of health and elegance, mulch is definitely the way to go.
Organic bark mulch plays an important role in any landscape, from keeping the soil moist and cool, to adding valuable nutrients to the soil. What many people don’t realize is how much is applied in your yard is equally important.
Here are a few things you don’t want to do when installing mulch.
Much Mountains
More isn’t always better, is especially true when it comes to mulch. Applying too much mulch can detrimental to your plants. Strangling them by limiting their access to water and air. A layer 2 to 4 inches of mulch is the right amount to allow your plants to breathe and thrive.
Volcano Effect
We’ve all seen mounds of mulch around a tree, up against the trunk. It may be visually appealing, but they can cause significant harm to the tree. Instead, much should taper off near the trunk, while avoiding the flare of roots. This will keep the tree healthy and free from rot and pests.
Choosing the right mulch: Organic vs Rubber
While rubber mulch may seem like a good choice, after all it will last a long time, but it may take a toll on the health of your plants. Depending on the rubber, toxic chemicals could leak into your soil, and can be toxic to pets and children. Organic mulch, such as pine bark, helps keep your soil healthy by breaking down and releasing nutrients into the soil. It is also safe for pets and children.
Installing with integrity
Measure with care: measure the square footage of the area you want to mulch, and the depth. This way you won’t order too little or too much. If you need any help figuring out how much you will need, the team at Reliable Peat is happy to help.
Prep your beds
Clearing out the old debris and weeds will allow the new mulch to work its magic without being impeded.
Spread evenly
Make sure to spread the mulch evenly, either with your hands or a rake, across the area. Just avoid having the mulch come into direct contact with tree trunks or plant stems.
