Discover the Benefits of Mulching and Reshape Your Garden with Pine Mulch

By Ava Brown, November 16, 2020

Mulch is a protective layer used on the top of the soil that reduces moisture evaporation and erosion. Also, it prevents weed growth, maintains soil temperature and provides an attractive look to any garden. It is considered as one of the best and most beneficial soil supplements that can be used in the garden.

Mulch can be organic or non-organic. Organic mulch is a natural substance derived from plants and animal materials, such as pine straw, chopped leaves, wood chips and more. Non-organic mulch includes materials such as pebbles, newspaper, recycled rubbers, rocks… Different types of mulch work for different types of gardens, there is no one mulch that fits every garden. To make the right decision about the mulch you’re going to use in your garden, it’s most recommendable to consider the type of mulch you need. For the colder time of the year, you’ll need mulch that will shield the bodies of the woody plants and keep the longevity of your garden.

Pine straw is a type of mulch that will not break down quickly and will supply nutrient and organic material to the plants. It insulates the root against harsh weather conditions and doesn’t attract pests. Most commonly, it is used around plants that need acidic soil conditions. Pine mulch is the ideal mulch for a vegetable garden, shrubs and trees.

Benefits of Using Pine Mulch in Your Garden

Pine needles are a great choice for limiting weeds and they don’t form a crust, allowing rain filter to the soil and not roll away. It’s an easy type of mulch to handle and remove when the time comes for a crop change. Usually, it lasts around two years or more and provides a wide variety of benefits that make it an essential addition to any garden.

Keeps the Soil Moist

One of the most important things is gardening is moisture retention. It reduces manual watering and provides an even supply of water to the plants. It’s one of the main characteristics of organic mulches, they conserve moisture by blocking the sun rays and help the soil to stay cooler. Shredded bark of pine trees can minimize evaporation and can be worked into the soil when it decomposes, a process that improves the soil as well.

Limits Weed Growth

As already mentioned, pine needles can reduce weed and weed growth. Weeds grow quickly and fill in unplanted spaces and any open ground around the plants. That’s why mulching services are great for your garden as they will prevent seeds from sprouting and weeds will stay away from your garden for a very long time. Pine chip mulch blocks the sunlight that weeds need to grow and spread, but also it keeps the soil moist and loose, which makes the weeds easier to pull and remove from the garden.

Keeps Soil Temperature

Another benefit of opting for pine mulch is that it can help moderate the temperature of the soil during cold winter months and hot summer days. It will protect the roots of newly planted shrubs and trees and allow them to grow as long as possible into early winter. This type of mulch can keep the soil beneath evergreen plants from freezing and helps their roots to absorb moisture in winter.

Adds Humus

Humus is another term for soil and it refers to the organic component of soil that is formed by the process of decomposing of leaves and various plant materials. Its main role is to retain moisture and provide powerful nutrients. The decomposition of organic mulches adds a layer of humus to the soil and enriches it.

Stays Longer

What’s great about mulch is that needs a little attention to function properly. When frequently exposed to sunlight, mulch colours can fade, but it can be resolved easily, just by adding an inch of fresh mulch. Pine bark mulch retains its colour for a very long time, so you can enjoy its pink-brown hue for two years or more.

How to Apply Mulch Properly

Mulching your garden takes a little time and if done right, your garden will not need maintenance on a daily basis or even a weekly basis. All you need is to spend a little bit of time in getting everything organised and then you can easily let your garden take care of itself.

Start with Decluttering Your Garden

Begin with digging out the weeds. Don’t snip or poison them as digging can significantly reduce the chance of weeds coming back to your garden. It’s important to remove all roots and bulbs and remove all foliage that is attached to the plants. That way you can improve air circulation and your plants will have extra space for growth. When you decide to declutter your garden, it’s a good idea to have organised mulch that will go straight onto the garden bed.

Use Quality Soil

Whether you’re making a new garden or improving an already existing one, good quality soil is a key factor that can help you achieve amazing results. If it’s a new garden, mix new soil with the old, and to improve the health of plants, spread some soil around the drip line of each plant. New soil provides a great flow for nutrients and retains moisture. Tree mulching services have excellent soil blends that will suit the area you live in and your garden type.

Water Carefully

A watering system with an automatic timer is the best way to take care of your plants and not worry if you ever forget to water them for whatever reason. If your plants are new, try watering them every day the first week and then you can continue two or three times per week until they are well grown.

Enjoying a beautiful garden is a wonderful experience, and can be easily achieved with a little bit of effort and attention. Making things the right way from the beginning will save you a lot of work in the future and will allow you to enjoy the benefits of an attractive garden with low maintenance required.