The term “mulch” is often used by many landscapers when they are discussing your gardening needs and plans. However, what exactly is mulch?
Mulch provides a lot of organic substances to plants. It is a great weed barrier, comes in different colours, adds protection, and is available in organic and non-organic forms.
Your commercial landscape will benefit and flourish immensely from the addition of this incredible substance, and it will stand out from the crowd as the bulk mulch encourages new and stronger growth.
Understanding the Types of Mulch
As noted above, bulk mulch frequently comes in two forms: organic and non-organic. Knowing the difference not only helps you to understand what mulch is, but how it can benefit your landscaping.
- Organic mulch: Broken-down mulch is a composite of organic materials, such as wood chips, grass clippings, straw, and more. Being organic, it not only performs as a barrier, but actually puts nutrients back into the soil, promoting stronger growth of the plants, flowers, and other foliage.
- Inorganic mulch: This is a synthetic material that has many great qualities. However, being factory-made and composed of gravel and stone, it cannot replace any nutrients as it doesn’t contain any. Nevertheless, it doesn’t break down quickly, so it negates the need for replacement every year (as with organic mulch).
Your professional landscaper can discuss with you the best option for your commercial property, as there are benefits to purchasing bulk mulch. The key, though, is knowing which type to get.
Water Retention
Mulch is dense, and even when it’s spread over larger areas, it has the innate ability to retain water. This could be from rain, watering systems, or even evaporation from the hot sun, thus releasing moisture from the soil beneath.
While this may sound harmful, as you don’t want the plants to rot, it is actually a good thing since it retains the water inside and releases it when the soil underneath begins to dry out, thus regulating the moisture in the ground.
This bulk dirt aids in breaking up clumpy areas by slowly releasing this moisture and keeping the soil porous.
Inorganic mulch works best in areas where water is a problem. Still, there needs to be a good drainage system in place to prevent flooding, pooling water, and root rot.
Being comprised of either synthetic materials (such as plastic or landscape fabric) or gravel and stones, inorganic mulch will maintain the overall look of the landscape, while allowing the installation of an effective drainage system. Bulk mulch depots can help supply required bulk dirt for water retention.
Weed Suppressant
There is nothing worse than weeds growing in your newly planted flower beds. Fortunately, mulch can prevent this invasion and restrict weed growth.
Knowing what’s in your mulch will be a key factor here, especially if it’s organic. You want to ensure that there are no compromised organic materials that could be harbouring weed seeds that are just waiting to sprout.
When spread over the landscaping, there needs to be enough of a consistent depth to the mulch in order to inhibit weeds. Gaps in the application of mulch can encourage weed growth and undo all your hard work.
If you are concerned about this issue, you can add a herbicide to the mulch to ensure that there are no weeds lurking within it.
Inorganic mulch may not be the best option in this case. While inorganic mulch is made of synthetic plastics and is therefore a great weed suppressant, it can get hot. So, in warmer weather climates, this can lock in heat and negatively affect the growth of the plants.
Landscape Regulation
Non-gardeners may not understand all the environmental factors that can affect the growth of plants, flowers, and trees. For the trained professional, however, assessing the weather and sunlight exposure in your landscaped area is crucial.
Mulch is a tool that is used to regulate the temperature of the soil and provides essential protection against harsh sun exposure, as well as frost and snow. Keeping the soil at a cool, regulated temperature not only promotes healthy growth, but can reduce the risk of freezing or too much sun exposure, both of which can destroy your plants.
Trees and shrubs benefit the most from mulch in this case, but all flower beds, planters, and other foliage types will prosper as well.
The Perfectly Balanced pH Levels
Soil has a particular pH balance that needs to be maintained for plants to grow. Depending on the location and environment, this can range from a pH level of 3.5 to 10.
Organic mulch is naturally low in pH, so it won’t disrupt the soil’s pH level, thus maintaining the delicate balance needed. The nutrients that organic mulch contains provide essential life-sustaining supplements to the growing flora.
Of course, inorganic mulch doesn’t contain nutrients, especially in plastic form, so adding them manually would be a requirement.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Mulch comes in a few different shades, including light brown and black, and can blend in with the landscape, especially when all the plants, flowers, and shrubs have fully bloomed.
The correct shade in the right place can boost the overall look and feel of the landscape, creating an aesthetically pleasing area.
Inorganic mulch can also provide this feel and ambience, especially when using gravel and stones. If, however, you have gone with a landscaping fabric or other material that may not fit in with the overall look, then a thin layer of organic mulch can be spread over to hide the inorganic mulch and make it work better with the surroundings.
Contact the Top Mulch Supplier
Whether you are ordering in bulk or purchasing different kinds of mulch to mix and blend, Peel Exterior Maintenance is the landscaping expert with everything you need.
With our wide range of organic mulches, all designed to give certain looks and performance, and our varied inorganic options, there is no better place to get your mulch.
You can call us at 1-888-455-7999 for more information about our bulk mulch depot, or visit us online and explore your mulching options today.
The post The Magic of Mulch: Why Your Commercial Landscape Needs It appeared first on Peel Landscape Depot.