A gardening expert has revealed why it is so important to use mulch in your yard to protect native plants.
Amy Powers (@powers_plants), a self-proclaimed garden coach, detailed her tips on keeping your soil, flora, and vegetation thriving and safe in a video shared to Instagram.
In the post, Powers explained why and how gardeners use mulch to protect their native and natural lawns.
"A nice fresh application of mulch certainly looks nice, but did you know that it does a lot more than just add aesthetic value to your landscape?" she said in the post, explaining that mulching can suppress weeds, retain soil and moisture, and keep soil temperatures stable.
Natural mulch alternatives such as shredded wood can also decompose overtime and provide nutrients for the soil and your plants later on.
Installing native and natural plants in your garden is one of the easiest ways to save money on water and lawn maintenance while ensuring a luscious green yard. These plants have been found to save homeowners hundreds of dollars, as they require much less water and fertilizer to stay healthy.
Stay hydrated and refreshed this holiday season — without any sugar or harmful additives Nuun’s zero-sugar hydration tablets are a perfect, guilt-free way to enhance your water throughout the day. You’ll get five essential electrolytes for everyday hydration — with zero grams of sugar. Plus, Nuun tablets are certified vegan and gluten-free, and they’re the perfect size to keep in your car, purse, or anywhere you'll want a healthy, restorative drink. Learn more → |
Native plants are also regularly visited by pollinators such as bees and butterflies that further protect our food supply and ecosystem.
Opting for grass alternatives like clover or xeriscaping can also provide similar eco-friendly and money-saving benefits for homeowners.
However, it is important to know how mulching can support these plants.
Powers said gardeners should only use mulch 2-4 inches deep, never letting it touch the stems of your plants or trees. This can cause water to be trapped against the plant, leading to disease. She also advised against using flammable materials like pine straw, hay, and even rubber mulches.
There's a reason dermatologists personally use this daily moisturizing sunscreen more than any other brand Dermatologists see and understand skin at a much deeper level than the rest of us, and they know that the perfect SPF both protects and corrects your skin. That's why they trust, recommend, and personally use EltaMD more than any other brand. EltaMD's clinically tested formulas are designed with dermatologists to meet the needs of any skin type or condition. They're also designed for consistent daily wear to build long-term resilience with a moisturizing, lightweight, non-comedogenic texture — plus hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Learn more → |
It is key to also inspect any mulch being brought into your yard, as it can often contain harmful pests like jumping worms, which can cause damage to your soil or plants.
Fellow gardeners have raved over Powers' tips, with one Instagram user saying: "Never knew. Thank you!"
"Good to know! We bought a house that is surrounded by landscape beds covered with rocks," another chimed in. "I hate them because I don't like how they look and it's so hard to weed once weeds start growing. Slowly trying to switch areas to mulch. I didn't know the bit about not having the mulch touch the plants!"
Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet.
Cool Picks
