If you are a landscaper that is trying to find a great product to help make your life easier and maximize the results on your property, mulch is one of the best options that are available to you. It’s one of the most versatile landscaping products on the market and can make a resoundingly positive impact if you use it effectively. There’s a reason why you commonly see mulch lining the garden beds and tree bases of landscapes around the country. Mulch comes in several different sizes, shapes, and textures, which means finding the right option for your own personal preferences is not difficult.

Two common mulch options include chips and bark mulch. Both of them provide a lot of different benefits and can help you improve the way your property looks. You might be wondering what the main differences between the two are and whether or not one is better than the other, which is why we’ve put together the following article to let you know. Keep reading to learn the main differences between chips and bark mulch and remember to reach out to Cal Blend Soils if you are interested in purchasing high-quality landscaping products at great prices.

Wood Chip Mulch

One of the most common types of mulch that property owners and landscapers love to use is wood chips. This mulch type consists of chopped up bits of wood that offer a natural look. Wood chip mulch has larger chunks than shredded mulch and offers certain chemicals that can add nutrients into the soil as it decomposes. This is important to note if you are interested in improving the quality of your soil with the mulch that you buy. Wood chips are also known to absorb moisture and last longer than other types of organic mulch.

When you are buying wood chips for your landscaping, make sure that it is from a quality supplier and that it doesn’t have any unnatural dyes or chemicals that can do more harm than good for your landscape. Naturally dyed wood chips are fine and can benefit your property in a lot of different ways. The best ways to use wood chip mulch include spreading it around trees and shrubs. It will help add nutrients to the soil and can even help to prevent fungal issues from occurring on your property. If you are interested in getting high-quality wood chip mulch at a great price, reach out to Cal Blend Soils today.

Bark Mulch

The other common type of organic mulch that many landscapers end up selecting is bark mulch. This mulch type comes directly from the bark of trees and is known to last longer than wood mulch. Since bark mulch usually comes with large nuggets that can float, its best to avoid using it in areas that experience heavy water flow like rain. Bark is great because it can be purchased in a variety of different colors and can really make your landscaping pop from an aesthetics point of view.

Two great options for bark mulch that you should consider buying from Cal Blend Soils include fir bark mulch and redwood bark mulch. Each one of these mulch types comes from different trees, which means they each offer their own unique appearance and style. Bark mulch is perfect if you are trying to prevent weeds from growing in and if you are focused on avoiding soil compaction.

The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Landscaping

Now that we know a little bit about wood chips and bark mulch, let’s discuss some of the best reasons to consider using mulch in your landscaping. After reading through these benefits, you will gain an understanding of just how valuable of a tool mulch can be.

1. Adds Organic Matter to the Soil

We all know how important the quality of the soil is in your landscape. If your soil is lacking certain nutrients or you are having trouble growing your plants, adding mulch into the equation is a smart decision. That’s because mulch literally adds organic matter directly into the soil. It can help to make your gardens healthier and provide valuable nutrients to your plants over time.

2. Helps to Retain Moisture

Another crucial component to a successful landscape is making sure that your plants are getting enough water. With mulch, you can use it to help retain moisture in the soil for longer timeframes. Mulch acts as a barrier that prevents evaporation since the soil has a layer of organic matter protecting it from direct sunlight. Using mulch can help you save money on the amount of water you use to keep your landscaping green and provide your plants with the moisture they need to grow to their full potential.

3. Stops Weeds in Their Tracks

Every landscaper recognizes the challenge that they face when weeds start to sprout up. These invasive plant species can take valuable nutrients away from the plants that you actually want growing and make it difficult to remove them once they grow in. With mulch, you can stop weeds in their tracks. Mulch acts as a natural barrier to stop weeds from growing. It blocks sunlight from getting to the weeds and makes it more difficult for them to grow.

4. Prevents Erosion

Working hard to improve the quality of your soil is a great way to achieve the best landscaping results. However, if your soil is washing away every time it rains, you might be getting frustrated. That’s yet another reason why mulch is such a valuable tool. It can help to prevent erosion from occurring on your landscape.

5. Visually Appealing

Another strong benefit associated with investing in mulch is that it can improve the entire appearance of your property. It comes in various sizes, shapes, and colors so that you can find the right mulch type for your stylistic vision. There’s something special about the clean lines and interesting textures that mulch can offer landscapes.