What is the best time to add mulch? – Southern Edition

What’s the best time of the year to add mulch to my landscaping? In more southern, seasonable year-round climates, you have much more flexibility on when to mulch compared to the northern states.

Typically you don’t need to worry about protecting plants from long freezing winters, and you don’t have to wait for huge snow piles to melt before you start your landscaping. But when is the best time to mulch? If you have mulched areas on your property, when should you add more?

Add mulch when you see bare spots.

Mulched areas are so low maintenance and it’s easy to forget about them. Remember to inspect your mulch areas on a regular schedule. Take a look for bare spots in your landscaping. If you see any, you’ll want to add more. Putting it off will give weeds a chance to take hold and ruin your landscaping.

Add mulch every 9-15 months.

Landscape mulch made from wood and other organic materials breaks down over time, especially in our southern climate. The good news is this means the mulch is releasing nutrients that fertilize your plants. The problem with a thin layer of mulch is that the roots of your plants are not effectively protected from the drying out effect. Most landscape professionals recommend adding new mulch to existing beds every 9 to 15 months.

Add mulch when heavy traffic areas show signs of wear.

For high-traffic areas like playgrounds and paths, you’ll probably need to add mulch more frequently. Keep an eye on these areas and watch for bare dirt or mud. Our mulch providers can add playground mulch quickly so kids won’t have to wait to get back on the swings and slides.

Add mulch when the depth is below 2-4 inches.

Check the depth of your mulch frequently. Because organic mulch decomposes from the bottom, it may look fine on the surface but be too thin to protect your plants. To get the all the benefits from mulch, make sure to have 2-4 inches on your mulched areas (at least 12 inches for playgrounds for safety). If it gets too thin, you’ll start to see weeds and lose moisture from the soil.

Add mulch when your property needs an aesthetic upgrade.

If you have a big event coming up or need to drive traffic to your property, consider adding fresh mulch to improve your curb appeal. You aren’t limited by the seasons in the southern United States, so our providers can add mulch whenever you need to freshen up your property’s appearance. Think about the possible scenarios for your property:

• Add playground mulch just before “back-to-school” night in the fall
• Add mulch to your retail property as part of preparations for the holiday season
• Add mulch near your pool or park right before the busy season

Whatever the season, adding mulch improves the look and value of your property.

Everyone has their own reasons for adding mulch to their landscaping. When you’re ready to get started on your mulch project, GetMulch.com can help. Whether you want the mulch installed or your mulch just delivered, we’d love to help!