5 Reasons to Regularly Check Your Mulch

If you have mulch in your HOA, commercial, residential or municipal landscaping, you probably don’t think about it very often. Property owners love mulch because it is so low maintenance and looks great without mowing or fertilizing.

You’ll still want to check your mulch regularly so you don’t miss any problems. But why? Check out these reasons to check on your mulch.

#1: Weeds could take over.

If your mulch gets thin and uneven, you’ll start to see weeds growing in your landscape beds. One of the biggest advantages of mulch is the way it suppresses weeds. Mulch covers weed seeds so they don’t have the moisture and sunlight they need to germinate. Thin mulch lets both moisture and light reach these seeds and before you know it they’re growing like, well, weeds.

If you notice any weeds, you’ll need to pull them and then add more mulch into these beds so new weeds can’t grow.

#2: Plants could suffer.

Mulch holds moisture in the soil. Your plants use this moisture to grow strong and healthy. Mulch also regulates the soil temperature. In the summer, it keeps the soil from getting too hot. In the winter, it keeps the soil from freezing too deeply. Wood mulch also fertilizes your plants as it breaks down over time.

If you mulch your beds, your plants grow to depend on it. If you let your mulch get too thin, your plants will pay the price. They may dry out or wither. In extreme cases, plants may have permanent damage or even die. Don’t let this happen to your landscape plants. If you notice your mulch is getting thin, contact us to get matched with a mulch expert who can restore the benefits your plants need.

#3: Your high traffic areas turn into dirt and mud.

Mulch is well suited for areas that get lots of use. It’s great for walkways and along parking lots. It handles being stepped on much better than grass. It protects and beautifies these areas so they look great while being functional.

If you don’t monitor your mulch in these areas, you could soon end up with a mess. Bare patches that should be covered with mulch look bad. When it rains, bare dirt turns to mud, which is messy and slippery.

Keep your high traffic areas looking good and functioning well by checking the thickness of your mulch. Our experts recommend 2 to 4 inches of mulch in areas like these. If you check your mulch and find it’s too thin, contact us. We can get a professional crew to come to your site and add mulch quickly and easily.

#4 Your playground isn’t as safe as it could be.

If you’ve got a playground or tot lot on your property, you need to monitor your mulch carefully. Most playground injuries are caused by children falling to the ground off of equipment. Dirt and grass do not provide enough cushioning to protect children from falls.

Mulch is one of the best surfaces for a playground because it cushions falls effectively. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends twelve inches of mulch underneath playground equipment. The right playground mulch provides a safe, affordable surface that’s easy to maintain.

If you’re not sure if you have enough mulch on your playground, it is important that you work with an expert who can help you determine this. A mulch professional will work with you to determine the mulch that is best for your playground and your budget. Your youngest visitors will be back to having fun in no time.

#5: Your property isn’t as valuable.

The bottom line is this: if your mulch is too thin, your property isn’t as valuable as it could be. If your mulch is faded or thin, customers or potential tenants might pass you by for a more attractive property. If your property is in a competitive area or a high-profile business, poor curb appeal can cost you thousands of dollars.

Don’t let this happen to you. It’s simple and quick to refresh your property with mulch. Freshly installed mulch has a finished appearance that can’t be matched. With a nationwide network of mulch providers GetMulch.com offers many types of landscape mulch, including different types of wood and a wide variety of colors. Whether you need your mulch delivered or installed, we would love to help make getting much easier for you!