If you are into gardening or landscaping, you are probably familiar with the word mulch. Mulching is an activity that landscapers and gardeners partake in to retain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, keep the soil cool, and prevent sediment runoff and erosion on their property. Mulch is something that is very good for plant life and the soil that helps them grow. If you aren’t familiar with what mulch actually is, it’s can be either organic or inorganic material. The organic mulch like bark, compost, shredded leaves, and composted manure are great for the soil and can really help your plants with some extra nutrients. Inorganic mulch is more for aesthetic appeal, although it can help prevent weeds and keep the soil cool. Inorganic mulch typically comes as black plastic, stones, or gravel.

Now that you know a little about mulch and why it’s such a valuable tool for gardeners and landscapers, it’s time to discuss a few poor mulching practices to avoid. People make mistakes all the time when they are learning how to handle gardening and landscaping, which is why we wanted to save you the time and effort and help you get the answers you need. If you are seeking the best mulch and landscaping supplies on the market, reach out to Cal Blend Soils today. Keep reading on below to learn how to avoid poor mulch practices so that you can make the most out of your mulch.

1. Using Plastic Barriers

One of the common mistakes that landscapers make when it comes to mulching is that they use black plastic barriers beneath their mulch. The idea is that the barrier will help you keep things organized and tidy on your property while preventing weeds from growing in, but this can cause serious issues for your plants. The black plastic prevents your plants from getting water and rain in their soil. We all know how important a regular water supply is for our plants to grow. Avoid using plastic barriers in your landscaping activities. If you do want to use something underneath the mulch, you should opt for a fabric that is specifically designed for this reason. The right material can help you keep your garden looking clean and organized.

2. Laying Down the Incorrect Amount of Mulch

Lots of techniques and activities in the gardening world require precision to be successful. This is true with mulching as well. There are plenty of gardeners and landscapers that use either too much or too little mulch on their property. In general, if you are applying organic mulch to an area, you should aim for applying 3 inches of organic mulch for your beds. Try to lay down fresh mulch twice a year to make sure you are achieving the maximum benefits. If you get the amount of mulch right, you are helping to prevent weeds from overtaking your garden and conserving moisture for your plants. You can also reduce the need for irrigation by getting the amount of mulch right. If you are using inorganic mulch, try to lay down layers that are a little less than you would with organic mulch. Try to aim for about two inches of inorganic mulch.

3. Buying Poor Quality Mulch

Another classic mistake that people make when it comes to mulch is that the purchase the cheapest mulch on the market. Not all mulch is the same in terms of quality and functionality, which is why it pays to invest in the best mulch on the market. If you purchase mulch from a seller that doesn’t have high-quality standards, you could be bringing invasive weed seeds into your garden. You are literally putting your plants and trees at risks by choosing to go with poor quality mulch. Instead of trying to cut corners and save money, you should go with a great landscaping products supplier like Cal Blend Soils. That way, you know you are getting great quality products and can be sure you aren’t introducing invasive weeds into your garden or landscape. Cal Blend Soils offers a huge variety of mulch at great prices, so reach out to us today if you have any questions or would like to obtain some mulch.

4. Not Mulching Big Plants and Trees

There’s a lot of people that think mulch is only for their smaller plants and flowers. They avoid laying down mulch around their larger plants and trees altogether. This is a mistake, as trees and larger plants still can benefit from the power of mulch. You should start doing rings of mulch around your trees and larger plants so that you can avoid getting overrun by weeds and help to improve the quality of your soil.

5. Not Mulching at All

Believe it or not, there are plenty of gardeners out there that avoid mulching at all. They might not understand the benefits of mulch or simply don’t want to invest in another landscaping product. This is a huge mistake, as they are missing out on tons of benefits that both organic and inorganic mulch provide. Regulating the temperature of the soil, retaining water for your plant’s roots, keeping weeds out, and preventing soil compaction are all benefits that mulching can provide. Not to mention the fact that organic mulch can really help to improve the quality of your soil over time. If you aren’t currently mulching, you should certainly start soon.

Every gardener and landscaper has lessons to learn when it comes to creating a healthy garden or landscape. Hopefully, the poor mulching practices mentioned above can help you avoid making mistakes in your garden. Remember that if you are looking to purchase high-quality mulch at great prices, you can reach out to Cal Blend Soils. We can help you choose the right mulch for your needs and answer any of your landscaping questions thanks to our decades of landscaping experience. Connect with Cal Blend Soils today to take your landscaping and gardening to a new level.