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Mulch provides numerous benefits to your yard and garden. Let’s take a look at some of those benefits:
Temperature Control
Mulch acts as a protective layer for your soil. This protective layer regulates changes in the temperature of your soil. This will help keep your soil cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Stops Soil Erosion
The protective layer that mulch provides, helps to protect against rainwater which may wash away your soil.
Moisture Retention
The majority of plants require constant moisture to ensure proper growth. This constant moisture means the need for repeated irrigation is likely reduced. The stress level of the plants is also reduced, making them more able to resist diseases and insects.
Weed Suppression
Although healthy plant growth can stop some weed growth, having a layer of mulch in your garden or yard suppresses additional unwanted weed growth. Mulch stops the sunlight from reaching developing weeds preventing them from growing.
Mulch Encourages Earthworms
Another benefit of mulching your garden or yard is that earthworms are encouraged to go into your plant beds. Earthworms are excellent for nutrient cycling and soil structure.
Add Soil Nutrients
Over time, organic mulch materials (such as leaves or wood chips) break down. The broken-down mulch (or decomposing mulch) adds nutrients to your soil. These nutrients feed both the plants as well as the organisms living in the area covered with mulch. Furthermore, the decomposed material also improves the soil structure by increasing the space between particles in your soil. The increased space in your soil better provides plant roots with oxygen, water, and nutrients since the plant roots are not compressed in compacted, hard soil.
Visual Appeal
On what otherwise would appear as an unfinished project, mulch adds a colorful finishing touch. In fact, a beautiful landscape can add as much as 15 percent to the value of your home.