Whether you're a professional landscaper or a homeowner with a green thumb and an interest in improving your garden, mulch is the key to healthy and vibrant green spaces. Generally speaking, mulch is a material that you place over the soil surface to retain moisture, prevent weeds, and enhance aesthetics. Below, learn about three common types of mulch and how to use each one.

How to Use 3 Common Types of Mulch

1. Wood Chips

Wood chips are a kind of organic mulch consisting of broken pieces of hardwood and softwood bark. They are dried out and may be dyed in colors like red, black, or even blue so as to provide a strong visual appeal.

Spread wood chips anywhere that can benefit from a good mulch; simply apply them in a loose layer about two to three inches thick. Wood chips look especially beautiful in flower beds, as borders, and as paths through gardens, tall grasses, or other, more "wild" spaces.

2. Hay

Hay is another organic mulch, one that is both attractive and beneficial for the soil as it breaks down and supplies the ground underneath with nutrients. Hay is particularly good for protecting seeds and starter plants; as it naturally composts, the nutrients encourage healthy plant growth.

Choose a variety of hay that is seed- and weed-free. Spread the hay evenly in a loose layer no more than four inches deep. It will become compacted over time, so you'll want to fluff it up to keep it looking and functioning its best.

3. Rock

Rocks like crushed gravel and crusher dust are manmade, but they don't break down, which makes them excellent options for mulching paths and walkways. Position them over the surface of the soil, and they will create defined trails that are easy to navigate and pleasant to look at.

Avoid using rock around trees and other plants; they're not effective at holding in moisture, and their composition makes it easier for heat to become trapped in the ground and damage roots.

 

When you need mulch in the Greater St. Charles, MO, area, visit River Bottom Topsoil. For over 20 years, they have been providing a variety of landscaping materials, including mulch, topsoil, gravel, and decorative rock. They also offer mulch delivery, so you don't need to worry about hauling or transportation. Call (636) 462-5331 or visit them online to schedule a delivery.