Yep! That’s right! The way mulch is made actually matters and makes a lot of difference in the product you are buying! IF you don’t know this, you could be wasting ALOT of money on something you really don’t need to.

This is one of the many reasons that using experts for your landscaping needs, like Forni Landscaping Arts, will literally be the difference between spending your landscaping budget on doing the same things over and over each year or using some of of your budget to better your landscaping each year until you have the kind of landscaping around your property that you are proud to show off!

First, What is Mulch?

Simply put, mulch is anything that covers up the exposed soil of a garden bed. However, depending on what kind of material is used it can either be very beneficial to the plant life in your garden, or hinder it. Naturally, mulch would consist of fallen leaves, twigs, debri from plants, etc. However when you buy mulch it should be with much more purpose than simply covering up the soil. Typically, mulch that is bought is created from a mixture of different types of wood from trees, compost, manure, even sea weed, and many other things.

There is an opportunity here if you are going to buy mulch to make sure it is made from things that are packed with the nutrients and benefits that your plants deserve. Because, if you are going to spend your hard earned money on something why not make sure you are getting the most out of the product you intend to buy. The problem, however, is that most people do not know the difference between the different kinds of mulching products out there, and end up with a subpar product that is not benefiting your garden at all. In fact, in some cases it may even be hurting your garden to use such products!

So…what should we be looking for in a mulch product? What are the benefits exactly?

Mulching, if done right, can have many benefits to the plants you love so much. One of the major benefits includes keeping the soil that your plants live in packed full of the nutrients that the tiny microorganisms in your garden bed need to be healthy and thrive.

Why is this important?

Because the waste from these tiny creatures is what gives your soil what it needs to support your plants. Its kind of like having a fridge in your home, but whether it is full or empty determines if you eat that day, and therefore your happiness level. Because lets face it, who is happy when they are hungry? Not me. If you have plenty to eat you will be healthier than if your refrigerator was empty. So lets give your plants the kind of soil that feeds them, not leaves them sad and hungry. To do this we need to be adding the right kinds of mulch that will continuously add more nutrients to your soil instead of it becoming depleted.

Some of the many other benefits to using mulch are:

• Keeping weeds at bay in your garden, preventing sunlight from reaching the soil.

• Prevents soil compaction and erosion.

• Helps maintain the gardens moisture level by preventing evaporation. Also keeps the soil surface from crusting over which allows for better water absorption

• Helps keep plants protected from harsh environments.

• Helps keep the soil and therefore the plants warm when its cold out and also helps cool them off when its too warm outside! This helps plants from not being uprooted from freezing soil as well as allows gardeners to plant earlier in the spring due to warming the soil faster than if it were to be exposed throughout winter.

• Helps prevent fruit and veggie diseases by helping keep the plant from resting on the ground

• Keeps plants from getting fungal and bacterial diseases usually caused by soil sitting on the leaves of the plants. Mulch helps prevent this.

• Creates an attractive aesthetic to your garden

Organic Mulch has even more benefits! Such as, adding a continuous flow of nutrients to the soil as it breaks down over time.

So…what are the best types of mulch to use?

There are so many different types of mulch to choose from that it can be overwhelming when choosing, especially if you are looking to give your plants the most you can out of their mulching experience instead of just prevent weeds from growing.

We are going to look at one particular type of mulch that we recommend, here at Forni Landscaping Arts, because its our favorite. We can get into the differences of all the different kinds, but lets save that for another day. We want to share this with you because we have a passion for plants and our goal is to spread some knowledge and help more people take care of their plants the right way. So, lets jump straight to what kind of mulch we like to use and why, for now.

Hardwood Bark Mulch

The most popular type of organic mulch on the market, is known as Hardwood Bark Mulch. It consists of pieces of aged bark from hardwood trees, such as oak, hickory, ash or maple trees. As stated above, there are a lot more benefits to using an organic mulch than the alternative. So naturally our favorite kind of mulch would be organic!

The kind of mulch that most people buy is usually made from pallets. The Hardwood Bark Mulch is much better that Pallet made mulch in our expert opinion. So lets explore the difference!

Advantages of Hardwood Bark Mulch vs Pallet made mulch

An undeniable benefit of hardwood bark mulch vs. mulch made from pallets is how great it looks. The irregularly sized pieces can give landscape beds a very natural and pleasing appearance. And unlike some other mulches, that attractive appearance won’t fade quickly over time. This will ultimately save you money when you do not have to replace the mulch in your flower beds so often. You may still need to add more mulch over time as organic mulch does break down, feeding your plants and soil. However instead of replacing it every year because it looks bad, its better to know that when you do need to add to your garden its beneficial to its overall health.

Some mulch made from pallets, will cause mushrooms to thrive! This isn’t good for your flower beds or your plants so we want to prevent this as much as possible. Hardwood Bark Mulch does just that.

Hardwood bark mulch works wonders in the soil. It is excellent, and one of the best at conserving water as it protects the soil against evaporation. The mulch also helps aerate the soil by allowing air to flow through it easily. As the mulch breaks down, decomposing, and adding nutrients your plants love to the soil, it is also making your garden less susceptible to pests and plant disease. There are so many benefits to using organic Hardwood Bark Mulch that if you want a healthy garden, there is no other option!

Where To Find Hardwood Bark Mulch

Organic Hardwood Bark Mulch can be found at most local garden centers. However, if you are looking to save some time and money, give us a call here at Forni Landscaping Arts and we will get you a good deal on your mulch purchase, as well as provide delivery and even install it for you! Let us know about your project and we will be happy to give you an estimate!