A common enough question about mulch is about the frequency with which to replenish it. It is an important query, but one that needs some amount of understanding of the different factors at play. Mulch is any material that serves to enhance the health of the lawn. It does so by suppressing weeds, regulating temperature, preventing moisture loss, or is simply adding to the aesthetic value of the landscape.
There is a range of materials, and the one that you choose will decide how often you would need to replace it. Generally, mulch is broken down into two broad categories: organic mulch, and synthetic and inorganic mulch.
Organic mulch
These include any material that breaks down naturally. Grass clippings, leaves, wood chips, compost, sawdust, and bark clips are examples. Mulch helps prevent weeds and loss of soil moisture. This reduces the competition the vegetation must face for nutrients and water. However, organic mulch proves a more beneficial than inorganic mulch. Not only are you utilizing a material that otherwise would have been discarded, but once it breaks down into organic matter, it increases the nutrition value of the soil.
Organic mulch also helps in channeling nutrients towards the roots of the plant. They are known to nurture bacteria, fungi, and insects that are beneficial to the growing plants. They offer insulation to the soil and stabilize the temperature underground in summers and winters. As a bonus, many of these organic soils are free or relatively cheap.
Synthetic and Inorganic mulch
These are mostly non-biodegradable and include substances like rubber chips, gravel, plastic sheets, and rocks. Like organic mulch, these to act against weeds and excessive evaporation, but they don’t add any value to the soil’s nutrient quotient.
Synthetic and inorganic mulch is pleasant to look at and relatively easy to apply. Another benefit is their longer life-spans. They also heat up more than the organic types, which could prove good for plants that need extra heat, but harmful to others. Though these might seem like good choices, to begin with, they can prove a hassle when they eventually break down into their non-biodegradable bits.
Frequency of Installation
Therefore, it is the choice of material that will decide when you need to replenish it. If you’re using gravel or rock, these could last decades. However, if you add compost to vegetation than yearly additions are necessary.
Timely application is also important when deciding on applying mulch. Though spring is the suggested time of the year for applying them, it also matters what the grass and plantation need. For example, some plants require a fair amount of warmth to achieve optimum growth. So applying mulch too early in the spring can slow down the growth of such grass. This is particularly true for relatively colder areas where temperatures don’t rise sufficiently.
If you’re unsure about the best material for your landscape or how often to install mulch, seek professional assistance to guide you.