What can you do with mulch?

Adding a layer of mulch is sure to create a fresh, clean and newly-planted look that will make any garden look great – but did you know the benefits of mulch go much deeper than the surface?

At Tip Top Tree Services our tree chipping service means we can turn any left over branches from your tree removal, tree pruning or land clearing job into environmentally friendly mulch that helps your plants and trees grow better.

Mulch is a material that protects the soil of your garden. It acts a bit like a blanket for the soil, protecting it from the elements and allowing in more air and nutrients. There are all sorts of benefits to using garden mulch: from maintaining soil moisture, to insulating roots and minimising your need to weed.

Benefits of mulching a garden

Here are just some of the important ways you can use mulch to improve your garden:

1. Cut back on your water use

One of the key reasons why we add mulch to soil is to retain moisture, and in turn reduce the need to water our plants. Garden mulch is a great way to stop the tops of your soil from drying out, keeping them moist for much longer. In fact, a layer of gardening mulch can reduce your need to water by around 60 per cent! This takes a lot of the pressure off during times where rain is scarce, creating a far more environmentally-friendly option for any garden.

2. Maintain the right soil temperature

Mulching a garden also helps to insulate the soil, ensuring it remains cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Keeping your soil temperature constant throughout the year – especially during the growing season – is a great idea, because a reduced fluctuation in soil temperature can improve overall plant health, and increase the growth potential of your garden.

3. Improve your soil quality

Organic mulch decomposes over time, adding extra nutrients to your soil along the way. It can also improve the quality of your soil by breaking up clay and allowing for better movement of water and air. Another way it increases soil quality is by controlling erosion, which is especially useful in areas that are sloped, bare or exposed to lots of rain.

4. Reduce your need to weed

By covering the soil, mulching helps to prevent weeds and the germination of weed seeds. This helps your plants to grow bigger and absorb more of the soil nutrients, because they’re not having to share their soil with as many weeds. While adding mulch won’t prevent all weeds from sprouting, it will greatly reduce the spread of weed seedlings, meaning that the weeds that do get through will be easier to manage.

What are the different types of mulch?

There are generally two main types of mulch: inorganic and organic. The type that’s right for you will depend on the type of plants, natural environment and the garden aesthetic you’re going for:

1. Inorganic mulch

This kind of mulch doesn’t decompose, and can be made out of materials such as gravel or small pieces of brick. As inorganic mulch won’t break down, it can have the benefit of lasting much longer, but the downside is that it won’t provide any organic nutrients to your soil.

2. Organic mulch

These mulches are usually made from wood bark or straw. As a general rule, ​​organic mulches decompose over time, providing extra nutrients to your soil, but because of this, they’ll often need topping up. With Tip Top Trees, you can rest assured that we always dispose of our mulch in a legal and environmentally friendly way.

Ready to get your garden in Tip Top shape? Tip Top Tree Services are here to help! Our team of expert arborists and tree specialists are fast, safe, effective and get the job done with a smile. Get in touch today to find natural and affordable ways to bring your garden vision to life.