We recently planted several blue lobelias (Lobelia siphilitica) in a narrow bed between Jim’s office and our parking area. The soil is good, but the summer sun beats down on that area, making it a problem spot for new plants. We hope that a good layer of mulch will keep these little plants from withering away in the afternoon heat.
Mulch makes the garden look neat and well-kept, but it also has numerous other benefits, so decide what you want to accomplish with your mulch purchase. Mulch helps decrease or prevent weed growth. It also helps the soil retain moisture, prevents water evaporation, and keeps plant roots cool in the summer. In winter, mulch slows down soil freezing and prevents ground-heaving. Other benefits include a decrease in the occurrence of soil-borne disease and prevention of mechanical damage to trees.
Organic mulches decompose and improve the soil by adding nutrients like nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and calcium. While soil improvement is a benefit, the decompositi...