Mulch is a common feature of lawns and gardens, a protective barrier used to cover the bare soil around plants. Most people recognize it as wood chips and pine needles, but it can also include materials like recycled tires, river rock, pebbles, and black plastic. If you want to improve your landscape, you might wonder if mulching is necessary. Here are several ways your property can benefit from it.

3 Reasons to Mulch Your Lawn

1. Weed Control

Most plants need plenty of light to grow and thrive. This includes weeds, which can quickly take over a yard because they germinate fast. They also rob other plants of nutrients, moisture, and oxygen in the dirt.

Mulching around trees, flower beds, and garden walking paths reduces how much light penetrates the treated soil. Without enough sunlight, the seeds of various weeds already in the ground can't grow and push through the dirt. As a result, the yard will have fewer weeds, allowing the proper plants to thrive.  

2. Moisture Retention

Besides sunlight, plants need adequate moisture to thrive. If your local weather doesn't produce enough rainfall to naturally water the greenery in your yard, you can keep it hydrated by hand or with an irrigation system.

Regardless of how you maintain the yard, plants will struggle under drought conditions. Moisture can also quickly evaporate on hot days before it can reach plant roots several inches into the soil. Fortunately, mulching is a protective barrier. Therefore, it can help the soil retain its moisture, allowing plants to absorb enough water to grow. 

3. Pest Control

A pest infestation can destroy a garden. Thankfully, some forms of mulch can repel critters. For instance, cedar bark is a popular material with natural oils, with a fragrance that helps keep insects away. Other popular types include melaleuca, cypress heartwood, and eucalyptus, as these options often deter termites.

Turn to Myer's Lawn Care Services in Sykesville, MD, if you're interested in mulching your yard. As a top landscaping company, they offer a wide range of services, including grass mowing, mulching, irrigation system installation, and garden design. Their experienced team also provides hardscaping services to create custom patios, walkways, and terraces to enhance your outdoor living space. Call (443) 398-2960 for a free consultation, or visit their website for more details about their services.