There are many environmentally friendly and horticulturally sound reasons to install mulch in the landscape. Among the primary benefits are the following:
- Cosmetic appeal – Mulch beautifies planter areas by giving bare dirt a uniform and rich dark brown finished appearance.
- Water conservation – Mulch helps to maintain cooler soil surface temperatures, thereby reducing evapotranspiration (evaporation of water from the soil) during warmer weather.
- Disease control – Mulch can help lessen the spread of soil and water borne diseases by reducing the splashing and runoff that occurs during irrigation and rainfall.
- Weed suppression – Mulch makes it more difficult for weed seeds to germinate.
- Chemical use reduction – Mulch can reduce the use of herbicides and pre-emergents by reducing weed germination.
- Soil erosion – Mulch prevents erosion by providing a buffer from irrigation and rainfall.
- Soil fertility – Mulch helps reduce the need for fertilizers by supplying soils with nutrients as microorganisms contained within it are released during the natural process of decomposition.
- Soil structure – Mulch benefits soil structure by incorporating organic matter. This is especially true in Southern California’s often heavy clay soils.
- Soil compaction – Mulch can help reduce soil compaction and cracking by aerating the soil profile.
- Paths and trails – Mulch is an increasingly popular addition to paths and trails where cosmetic appeal, erosion control, and weed suppression are important goals.
- Cost savings – Mulch saves money on landscape costs for all of the reasons listed above!
