Landscaping in Bethesda MD: The Importance of Mulch

Mulch is pretty important to the health and appearance of your landscaping in Bethesda MD.

Mulch can be comprised of wood chips, cedar bark, straw, pine needles, and yard compost, and well as stones and gravel.

There are many benefits to adding a layer of mulch to areas around your landscaping in Bethesda, MD.

• Mulching slows water evaporation, reducing water loss from the soil.
• Mulching slows weed growth.
• Organic types of mulch improve the soil quality as they decompose.
• Mulch protects plant roots from temperature extremes and sudden temperature fluctuations.
• Mulch ads color and texture to your landscape design.

There is no “One Size Fits All” type of mulch. The type of mulch you use in your landscaping is based on the needs of your landscaping. For instance:

• An aged (partially decomposed) organic mulch should be used in areas that need soil improvement. It adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes, improving the soil and encouraging plant growth.
• Fresh organic mulch (wood chips and bark) doesn’t improve the soil until it decomposes, but it looks great and control weeds around trees and shrubs.
• Stones or gravel mulch can shore up areas in your landscaping that can get washed out during hard rain. Landscapers will use stones or gravel to create French drains to help prevent flooding in your yard.
• Organic mulches shouldn’t be spread over damp or low-lying areas that retain too much moisture. Rocks and gravel mulches may get too hot for shallow plant roots.

Colored Mulches

Most organic mulches turn gray in about a year; if you want color that lasts longer (2-3 years) try colored organic mulches. Using vegetable dyes, mulches comes in many colors and can offer a striking contrast to the plants in your garden beds.

For more information about the most appropriate mulches for your landscaping in Bethesda MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. East Coast Landscape Design is head and shoulders above other landscaping companies in Bethesda MD. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has designed and installed beautiful landscape and hardscape projects around Bethesda MD and surrounding communities.