By April Sanders
Mulch
Mulch works to maintain healthy plants. Mulch is a ground cover, and it works to preserve plants and soil. In addition, mulch works to smother weed growth and improves the appearance of landscaping.
Mulch is any material, usually organic, that covers the surface of the soil. Popular mulches that landscapers use include wood chips and pebbles. In nature, mulch can be seen in the ground covering of leaves in the fall, or of blossoms from trees in the spring. Mulch can be purchased at any garden or home center, but often gardeners make their own mulch, if they prefer organic mulch.
Benefits of Mulch
Mulch has a positive effect on both the soil and plants. It protects the soil from erosion and from water evaporation. In the summer, mulch keeps soil cool, and in the winter, it keeps it warm. Mulches that contain organic materials improve the mineral content of the soil, helping plants to grow more vigorously. It also helps keep the soil loose. In addition, mulch encourages root growth. It protects the trunks of trees from yard tool damages, and it creates a pleasing look in any landscape. Finally, mulch also slows the growth of weeds.
Types of Mulch
There are two main categories of mulch: Organic and non-organic. Organic mulches are made of substances found in nature. The most popular organic mulches are wood-based such as bark or tree mulches. Organic mulches sometimes include pine needles, leaves, and grass clippings. These types of mulches are appealing to insects and need to be replaced every two years or so as they will decompose.
Non-organic mulches are just that: Non-organic. They can be pebbles or rocks, or a ground covering designed to stop weed growth such as black plastic. Non organic mulches last longer than organic mulches because they do not decompose. They also do not attract pests. Most people, however, do not like the look of non-organic mulches as much as they like the look of organic.
How Does Mulch Work? by waterflowers.net