First of all, what is Mulch?
Mulch is simply put, a protective layer of material (usually organic) on top of the soil and around plants. It’s one of the best things you can do for your lawn, yard or garden. Mulch is very popular among commercial and residential properties here in South Carolina.
Organic mulch is comprised of things like shredded bark, bark chips, wood chips, pine needles, hay, leaves, compost and grass clippings, essentially anything you would naturally find in the environment.
Alternatively, inorganic mulch can be composed of gravel, black plastic, and rubber chips.
Landscapes take on many shapes and sizes. One of the best ways to transform any lawns is to take advantage of the various types of mulch we provide here in Little River, Longs, and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Mulch adds an aesthetic appeal to any lawn. They can be very attractive, which can add a great amount of value to your property. But what more benefits does using mulch bring to your lawn? Today, we will shortly go over some of the benefits that you might not have heard of!
Organic or Inorganic?
For the environment here, specifically North Myrtle Beach and Little River, organic mulches overtime will slowly decompose and release nutrients into the soil and improve your lawn structure. Organic mulches will also keep your lawn soil cooler and retain moisture levels more than inorganic mulches.
On the other hand, a significant benefit of using inorganic mulch, like stone, is that it doesn’t break down over-time. This is why it’s considered a long-lasting solution to your mulch needs as you won’t be needing regular replacement, saving you time and money. However, keep in mind that if you’re using stone mulch, the stone has the ability to retain the sun’s heat. This will create a warm and drier soil environment, which could be harmful to plants that do not thrive in this type of situation.
Stop’s weed growth!
Weeds are extremely unattractive. On top of that, they also hog nutrients, water, and sunlight from the plants that you actually intend to grow. One way to stop weed growth is to add Mulch! Mulch keeps weeds from receiving the sunlight they need to survive by creating a barrier that most weeds do not have,
Retains Moisture!
You can think of Mulch as a sponge – Just like sponges, Mulch stores water for the soil beneath it to use whenever necessary. Mulch also acts as a barrier for the soil beneath, limiting the escape of water. Which is very important as South Carolina has a humid subtropical climate with hot summer.
Watering your lawn can be a time-consuming job when you could much rather use that time in doing something else. Well, Mulch can keep you from having to water your landscape as much, which keeps your wallet and the environment happy!
Protection during temperature fluctuations!
Oh yes, Mulch doesn’t just help during Summer, but also the mild Winter’s that we get down here in Little River, SC. During the winter, a layer of mulch will protect plant roots from frost-heaving. Without Mulch, your plants will be pushed out of the ground by the natural expansion and contraction of the soil as it cools off and heats up. As for the hot summer we get here, mulch will keep your plant roots from becoming overheated and damaged.
Prevents Soil Erosion!
On average, we get 40 inches (1,000 mm) to 80 inches (2,000 mm) of rainfall annually across the state of South Carolina! Mulch will not only keep your soil hydrated at dry conditions, but it will also protect it in times of excess rainfall. This is achieved through the barrier that mulch creates on top of the soil, reducing the force of heavy rainfall, preventing soil from washing away.
Help’s keep pests away!
From Beetles to Stinging Insects, Ants. We get them all down here in the South Carolina climate. Some of the Mulch that we provide, contains the necessary elements that are needed to deter pests from your yard. Especially organic mulches, when they break down, they improve the chemistry of the soil which attracts helpful bacteria’s, fungi, and insects. These helpful organisms help to fight off other harmful pests. Additionally, some types of mulch, like the cypress mulch that we offer, contain natural oils and chemicals that also deter bugs!
Attracts Earthworms!
Earthworms are sometimes known as ‘ecosystem engineers’ because they significantly modify the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil profile. Nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen become more readily available to plants after digestion by earthworms and being excreted in earthworm casts. Scientists have measured up to five-fold increases in nitrogen availability in earthworm casts compared to undigested soil. Earthworms also take nutrients down through the soil profile, bringing them into closer contact with plant roots. Earthworm also opens up small spaces, known as pores, within the soil. This will lead to an increase in water infiltration rates of up to 10 times the original amount. This brings water and soluble nutrients all the way down to plant roots!
Transform’s your Landscape!
Adding mulch to your landscape can drastically improve the way it looks. We don’t need to explain how as you’ve already seen in the pictures above. On top of that, Mulch is very simple to care for and will never compete with other plants or any of your landscape features.
If you need to transform your landscape and get all these benefits mentioned above, Quiet Lawn offers a wide range of mulch like:
- Shredded Cypress (chocolate, red, and black, and natural)
- Shredded Hardwoods
- Pine Straw
- Natural Stone (River Rock, Red Lava Rocc, etc.)
- Rubber Mulch
- Decorative Rock
Our installation service will be a great addition to your landscape or home in Little River, Longs and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For expert mulch services that won’t disturb your landscape, contact Quiet Lawn today to get a free estimate!
For more information on our Mulch Installation Services, click here!
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