Mulching is a vital aspect of landscaping that can help your vegetation thrive in the current season and beyond. It’s not a complicated landscaping feature, and with a bit of know-how, the process can be a breeze. There’s a general time to mulch and knowing how to mulch is essential. If you have no idea when to mulch your landscape, you’re in the right place. To keep your yard looking delightful, here’s a look at when it’s the ideal time to invest in mulch.
Invest in Buying Mulch During the Off-season
Mulch prices tend to fluctuate since it’s a seasonal product. However, during the peak of the mulching season, prices tend to jump because the demand for it is higher. Homeowners or landscapers looking to avoid the high mulch prices are best-served shopping when the demand is low during the offseason. This way, you’ll get great value for your money and save some cash in the process. Don’t worry about risk purchasing your mulch ahead of the mulching season since if you store the item in a temperature-controlled space, you may prevent it from degrading. Observe the manufacturer’s date and good-till date highlighted on the package.
The Best Time To Mulch
On a whole, professional landscapers contend that late winter or early spring is the ideal time to apply mulch. Still, others maintain that mulching can take place during late fall and winter. Certain factors help to determine when spring mulching or fall mulching is best.
Mulch in the spring under these instances:
- For Aesthetic Appeal: Spring is about restoration, and mulching during this time can give your landscape a new, clean, fresh look. It helps to brighten the soil that lost its color during the fall and winter and can provide a beautiful contrast against the vegetation.
- Avoid Winter Moisture: A wet winter plus mulching creates an environment for moisture to be trapped and impact the growing plant roots. Waiting until mid or late spring is best to avoid moisture woes. If you live in a dry area, it might be possible to add mulch in early spring.
- Aggressive Weeds: Since weeds grow during the springtime, adding mulch is a good way to rob them of sunlight needed to help them thrive. If you have particularly aggressive weeds, stifle their growth with mulch rather than harmful herbicides.
Mulch in the fall or winter under these instances:
- Extremely Poor Soil: To address an extremely poor soil issue, a fix could be adding mulch in late fall or early winter. The mulch will decompose slowly and enrich the soil, providing your plants with the necessary nutrients for growth.
- Insulate Plants: The winter isn’t particularly kind to plants with extremely cold temperatures that can cause freezing and eventually plant damage or death. The mulch can act as an insulating blanket against the cold and help to protect your plants into the new season. Perennials tend to remain dormant during the cold season, and a layer of mulch in fall or winter could insulate their root and protect them.
For your gardening and landscaping projects, Lola’s Landscape can help to make your yard a delightful vision. Our skilled team can keep your plants protected and thriving all season long. Reach out to us at Lola’s Landscape today for a quote.
