What Does Mulch Do When Installing Properly

Avoid These DIY Mistakes for a Healthier Garden

Mulch is often celebrated for its ability to enhance soil health and beautify landscapes. However, when improperly installed, especially in DIY landscaping projects, it can lead to numerous issues that may undermine the health of your garden. In this article, we explore what does mulch do and the common mistakes made during DIY mulch installation along with the resulting problems that could arise.

Moisture Mismanagement

What does mulch do? One of the primary functions of mulch is to help manage soil moisture. However, incorrect installation can turn this benefit into a liability.

• Excessive Moisture Retention: Thick layers of mulch can trap too much moisture. This excess moisture can lead to root rot and fungal growth, which are detrimental to plant health.
• Insufficient Water Percolation: Too dense a mulch layer can prevent water from seeping into the soil, leading to dehydration of plants.
• Encourages Pest Infestation: Moist environments are breeding grounds for pests. Improper installation creates a perfect habitat for insects that may harm plant roots and stems.

Weed Proliferation

Though mulch is intended to suppress weed growth, incorrect application can actually promote it.

• Uneven Distribution: Sparse areas of mulch allow sunlight to reach the soil, encouraging weed seeds to germinate.
• Inadequate Depth: A layer of mulch that’s too thin does little to prevent weeds. Weeds can find their way through and, once established, are hard to remove.
• Using Contaminated Mulch: Sometimes, mulch can contain weed seeds. If not properly treated or sourced, these seeds grow, contributing to a weed problem rather than preventing one.

Soil Health Degradation

The quality of soil is pivotal for the health of your garden, and mulch impacts soil chemistry and structure.

• Altering Soil pH: Some mulch materials can alter the pH of the soil, affecting the availability of nutrients to plants. For instance, pine bark can acidify the soil, which might not be suitable for all plants.
• Barrier to Nutrient Absorption: If mulch is compacted, it can form a hard layer that prevents nutrients from fertilizers from reaching the soil, starving plants of essential nutrients.
• Limiting Air Circulation: Over-mulching or using non-porous materials can suffocate roots by limiting air exchange, essential for root respiration and growth.

Hire Us to Ensure You Benefit From What Does Mulch Do 

Don’t let DIY errors compromise your landscape. Our professional landscaping services ensure that your garden thrives all year round. Contact Nature’s Nest Landscaping by calling (559) 588-6984 today to schedule a consultation and learn more about our comprehensive landscaping solutions in Clovis, CA.