Few landscape features can have as transformative an impact on your yard as high-quality mulch. After all, mulch can help promote the healthy growth of your garden, prevent weed growth, and give your yard a more visually appealing look. But what do you need to do to prepare your garden for fresh mulch? The lawn maintenance team at Lawn Innovations in Dayton, OH, has a few key tips.

Be sure to take care of these tasks prior to adding mulch to your landscape:

• Kill Weeds: While mulch is quite effective at suppressing weed growth, killing any existing weeds prior to laying down mulch will make it significantly easier to maintain a weed-free garden. Remove weeds by hand-pulling or spraying the weeds with an herbicide, and then apply a pre-emergent to the area to further prevent weed germination.
• Clean & Cultivate: In addition to removing weeds from the landscaping area, it’s also a good idea to remove dead leaves and other debris prior to applying mulch. Since the soil in this area has likely been compacted, many lawn maintenance companies also recommend cultivating the soil with a rototiller, as this will allow moisture and air to better reach the roots of your plants.
• Edging & Smoothing: Next, your landscaper may wish to use a power edger to create a smooth, clear boundary between the lawn and garden. This not only helps the mulched area look better, but it also keeps mulch from spreading onto your grass. Once this is complete, the final step is to rake the soon-to-be mulched area to create a smooth, even surface. These final lawn maintenance tasks ensure your garden area will have a clean, professional look once mulch has been added.

Transform your yard with impactful landscaping and lawn care from Lawn Innovations. To learn more about their lawn maintenance services or to schedule a free consultation, visit them online or call (937) 626-0406 today. You can also find the company on Facebook and Twitter.