Do You Know When to Add Mulch?

In areas with colder climates, most people mulch in the spring after the snow melts. In seasonable year-round climates like Alabama, though, we have much more flexibility in when we mulch. We don’t need to worry about protecting plants from long freezing winters, and we don’t have to wait for huge snow piles to evaporate before we start our landscaping. But when is the best time to mulch? If you have mulched areas on your property, when should you add more?

Add mulch when you see bare spots.

Mulched areas are so low maintenance that it’s easy to forget about them. Remember to inspect your mulched areas on a regular schedule. Take a look for bare spots in your landscaping. If you see any, you’ll want to contact one of our professional installers to add more. Putting it off will give weeds a chance to take hold and ruin your landscaping.

Add mulch every 9-15 months.

Landscape mulch made from wood and other organic materials breaks down over time, especially in our southern climate. The good news is this means the mulch is releasing nutrients that fertilize your plants. The bad news is the thinning mulch leaves the roots of your plants exposed and in danger of drying out. Most landscape professionals recommend adding new mulch to existing beds every 9 to 15 months.

Add mulch when heavy traffic areas show signs of wear.

For high-traffic areas like playgrounds and paths, you’ll probably need to add mulch more frequently. Keep an eye on these areas and watch for bare dirt or mud. Our installers can add playground mulch quickly so kids won’t have to wait to get back on the swings and slides.

Add mulch when the depth is below 2-4 inches.

Check the depth of your mulch frequently. Because organic mulch decomposes from the bottom, it may look fine on the surface but be too thin to protect your plants. To get the all the benefits from mulch, make sure to have 2-4 inches on your mulched areas. If it gets too thin, you’ll start to see weeds and lose moisture from the soil.

Add mulch when your property needs an aesthetic upgrade.

If you have a big event coming up or need to drive traffic to your property, consider adding fresh mulch to improve your curb appeal. We aren’t limited by the seasons here in Alabama, so our installers can add mulch whenever you need to freshen up your property’s appearance. Think about the possible scenarios for your property:

• Add playground mulch just before “back-to-school” night in the fall
• Add mulch to your retail property as part of preparations for the holiday season
• Add mulch near your pool or park right before the busy season

Whatever the season, adding mulch improves the look and value of your property.

Everyone has their own reasons for adding mulch to their existing beds. When you’re ready to get started on your mulch project, GetMulch.com can help. Our site matches you with a top mulch professional who can give you a complete quote and a great mulch installation experience. Fill out a form on our site today to get started.