Mulching and its Benefits

Friday, April 6 - Today I spent preparing my flower gardens for mulching, as you can see, the ground has been weeded and raked. Before raking, I also tilled the ground with a hoe to break up any hard ground. This helps to aerate the soil as well as disturbs any weeds which may have started  to germinate.

There are many benefits to mulching, besides adding aesthetic flavor to your gardens, this type of covering helps maintain moisture during the hot summer months as well as keeping the roots of all your plants and flowers cool. Also, during the winter, mulch insulate your plant roots which provides protection against frosts and freezing.

 As your mulch begins to break down, it provides nutrition to your ground. It serves as a "natural" compost which will continue to fertilize your soil throughout the years. Mulching helps deter weeds to grow and will cut down on weeds provided your prepare your soil properly before putting it down. As I mentioned earlier, the preparation sometimes takes longer than laying the mulch but this time will certainly pay off, especially during the summer growing season.

There are different types of mulch available depending on its preparation and color. No one color is better than the other and should be picked upon personal preference.

Preparation is usually 3 different ways, that being once, twice or triple shredded. The more your mulch is shredded, the easier it is to spread and  lay.

Today I had 5 yards of triple shredded black mulch delivered. This has been an annual event that I look forward to. Not only do I enjoy laying the mulch, but it also reminds me that flower planting is not too far away. Lastly, its fresh smell and the beauty it adds to the garden is a welcome addition to my flower gardens.

Tomorrow, I hope to post pictures of my finished product.