To mulch or not to mulch?

Is one mulch better than the other? How much mulch should I use? When should I mulch?

Our landscape professionals get asked these questions, and there are as many opinions as there are types of mulch. From rock and colored wood chips to cedar and cypress, there’s a mulch for every preference. We asked Kelly O’Donahue, master gardener and Villa landscape designer, to share the scoop on mulch:

Natural mulch has many purposes. It:

• Inhibits weed growth when applying a 4” layer or more
• Cools the roots of the plant and holds moisture around plantings
• Gives a finished look to landscaped areas
• Can impact the look of your garden, so consider plant colors when choosing colored mulch.

More facts about mulch:

• Cedar and cypress mulch take longer to break down in the garden than other wood mulch and will need replenishment less often.
• Dyed mulch is available in browns, reds and gold.
• Dyed mulch will not leech color into your gardens or poison your plants.
• Cocoa chip mulch is poisonous to dogs.

Natural mulch can make your gardens look great. Consider these tips before applying mulch in the spring:

• Add compost to your soil, which will improve any soil condition.
• Before applying a pre-emergent weed control product, read the label carefully for application tips.
• If you are working in soil that is too wet, it will form large clods that when broken down will turn to dust.