Making a mistake when mulching can cause an effective landscaping plan to lose its appeal. Although this option is quite affordable compared to other design elements, it can still cause problems when installed incorrectly.
Knowing how to landscape with mulch can help enhance a property’s curb appeal while providing logistical benefits.
Here’s a closer look at what to expect if you’re thinking about adding mulch to your landscaping plan.
Why Use Landscape Mulch for Curb Appeal?
Mulch landscapes benefit from increased soil temperatures, moisture conservation, and weed suppression.
Depending on the landscaping plan, some mulches can even prevent water runoff and erosion.
Since several mulch types and colors are available today, homeowners can select products that enhance the curb appeal of their property in affordable ways. The benefits to the soil composition, aesthetic value, and overall cost are a winning combination.
Here are some of the dos and don’ts to consider when using mulch for landscaping.
1. Do use mulch as an accent.
You can overdo landscaping mulch if you have the same color dominating your property. The best designs compliment a lawn while matching some of the exterior tones of the house. If you have a brick home, it might be better to use pine. [[1]]
Dark mulches can deliver extra contrast for your flowers, adding another landscape design element to enjoy.
2. Don’t use too much mulch.
Most landscaping plans benefit from using two inches to four inches of your preferred mulch. When you get closer to the thicker amount, the risk of weed reproduction decreases significantly.
You can drop to about two inches when you’re mulching in shady areas. [[2]]
Mulches can attract some pests, so you’ll want to keep the product away from your tree trunks and other plants. Depending on your landscaping elements, it might be necessary to keep a foot of clearance.
If you use pea gravel, rubber pellets, or another inorganic mulch, it might be possible to install one or two inches of your preferred product to get the results you want.
3. Do clean out the old stuff.
When you’re implementing one of the best mulch landscape ideas for your property, it’s important to remove some of the old stuff out of your beds or gardens.
It’s not unusual to see mulch added to some beds four or five times. If you’ve got a lot of buildup happening on your property, it’s better to remove the older product first.
Depending on your curbside pickup rules, your old mulch might qualify to go with grass clippings and other yard-based organic debris. [[3]]
4. Don’t ignore any bare soil.
Bare soil on your property increases the risk of sediment runoff and erosion. When you add mulch to these resources, you can help to control those problems effectively.
Bare soil can lose as much as five times the amount of sediment as an area given landscaping mulch coverage.
When placing mulch around a tree, it helps to create a ring around the trunk to deliver the protective benefits of this material. Not only does it keep the pests away from the protective bark, but it also causes the mower to give the region a wide birth.
5. Don’t use sour mulch.
Landscaping mulch should come from a reliable source. If the product you receive was stockpiled next to a field filled with weeds, you’d get a lot of unwanted guests in your yard after spreading out the product. [[4]]
You could be paying for that problem for two or three years before things get under control.
Although retail mulch is a practical way to work on your landscaping plan, it often helps to work with a professional installer. They have access to more options, bulk costs, and other benefits that can help you create the yard of your dreams.
6. Do think about trying a different look.
Mulch landscaping is all about color and texture. If you have the same thing in your property year after year, the consistency can turn into a dull look that makes everyone yawn – including you! Trying something different can excite the senses while producing a beautiful result. A popular choice today is cocoa bean shells because they look and smell incredible. Everything from salvaged palettes to seaweed can deliver results, so try to keep all your options on the table. [[5]]
Mulch landscape ideas start when homeowners are ready to make a few changes. This option is affordable, easily installed, and provides immediate benefits. What mulching product do you think you’ll try today?
