4 Benefits of Installing Mulch in Your Landscape Beds

Applying a fresh layer of mulch to your landscape beds in Virginia is one of the best ways to spruce up their appearance. But did you know that mulch boosts the health of your landscape beds and plants as well? There are 4 primary benefits of installing mulch in your landscape beds. These include soil temperature regulation, erosion control, weed prevention, and moisture retention. Keep reading to learn more about each of these benefits!

1. Mulch regulates your soil temperature.

The first benefit of installing mulch in your landscape beds is that it regulates your soil temperature. This is very important in a state like Virginia due to the extreme weather conditions that are common here at different times of the year. Temperatures become bitter cold in the winter and uncomfortably hot in the summer, both of which can take a toll on your landscape beds and the plants that reside within them. That's where mulch comes in.

Mulch insulates your landscape beds so they are not exposed to the elements and protects your plants from drastic temperature changes. Thanks to mulch, your soil temperature will not dip as low or leap as high as the air temperature. This safeguards the roots of your plants and shields them from shock.

2. Mulch Reduces Soil Erosion

The second benefit of installing mulch in your landscape beds is that it reduces soil erosion. This is critical because you need your soil to remain intact so that it covers the roots of your plants. If your roots are exposed, the health and viability of your plants are thrust into jeopardy. Mulch acts as a barrier between your soil and the air, so when rain falls, it will hit the mulch instead of the soil. Mulch will deflect and absorb a lot of the water while allowing only a percentage to seep through into the dirt. This mitigates erosion but still enables your plants to stay adequately hydrated.

3. Mulch provides weed control

The third benefit of installing mulch in your landscape beds is that it provides weed control. Weeds are unsightly nuisances that compete with your plants for key resources, like nutrients, and tarnish the appearance of your landscape beds. Applying a layer of mulch will suffocate any existing weeds and prevent new weed seeds from reaching your soil and germinating. If you are tired of looking at weeds in your landscape beds, then adding mulch is a great way to prevent them from ever popping up.

4. Mulch Helps Your Soil Retain Moisture

The final benefit of installing mulch in your landscape beds is that helps your soil retain moisture. While too much water will erode your soil, too little water will cause your plants to become dehydrated and die. That's why you want to keep your soil moist, but not overly saturated. Mulch blocks sunlight from hitting your soil directly and evaporating the water within it. This helps regulate your soil moisture levels and preserves the health of your plants.

Ready to add mulch to your landscape beds? Call today to schedule our mulch installation service!

Are you ready to add mulch to your landscape beds? If so, we are here to help. At Hambleton Lawn & Landscape, we offer our mulch installation service to properties in Arlington, Falls Church, McLean, and nearby areas in Virginia. Our team installs multiple types of double-shredded hardwood mulch — including regular, brown, and black — that should ideally be applied to your landscape beds twice per year, in the spring and fall.

Not only do we install your mulch, but we also clean up debris and trim around the edges of your landscape beds to give them a polished appearance. If you want your landscape beds to reap all the benefits of mulch, call us today at (703) 532-4911 to schedule our mulch installation service!