‍Some people wonder if mulching really helps, and the answer is a resounding YES! You should totally be mulching your yard because it not only makes for a more beautiful lawn, but it also makes for less work for you in the long run. Here are some helpful tips.

Use mulch as an accent

Mulching not only can help create healthy lawns but it can also beautify your yard as well. Choose colored mulch that complements the exterior colors of your home, e.g, brownish/red pine mulch goes well with brick houses. Using a dark mulch can contrast with flowers, improving your landscape design. Mulch also can be used to enhance your landscape theme and setting.

Clean out your mulch bed

If you are re-mulching a bed, it’s a good idea to remove the old mulch first, especially if you have added mulch multiple times. It’s also a good idea to tweak the depth of mulch, which can depend on the type of plant.

Protect your bare soil

Having bare soil on your property will cause erosion and sediment runoff. Mulching can help control erosion, as it’s been shown that bare soil can lose about five times as much sediment as soil covered with mulch.

Don’t assume you need something underneath

Some people may want to use plastic or geotextiles, such as landscape fabric, to separate certain mulches, such as inorganic stone mulch, from the soil. But adding a layer of plastic or landscape fabric could cause more water runoff and keep your garden from having a clean, streamlined look.