Mulch Harrisburg PA is an important part of any garden or landscape. It retards water loss, moderates soil temperatures, and helps suppress weeds. Properly stored mulch also adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes.

Unfortunately, many people use inappropriate types of mulch, especially around tree trunks. Putting mulch too high up against the trunks limits the exchange of oxygen and moisture, which can lead to disease.

Mulch is often made of organic wood chips, shredded bark, or compost. These types of mulch decompose over time, providing valuable nutrients to the soil and minimizing the need for chemical weed controls. This process can also help reduce the amount of soil disturbance that occurs with physical weed control, which can harm the soil ecology and organic matter.

Plastics mulches are a more modern innovation, and their biodegradation is not as well understood as that of the more natural materials. They are made up of a polymer backbone and low amounts of additives to meet processing requirements and achieve desired properties such as physical resistance and water vapor transfer. The rate of biodegradation is influenced by soil texture, climate, and the specific product formulations. In general, they will break down faster in loose, moist, medium textured soils with good water-holding capacity and porosity.

The benefits of using mulch are many and varied, but one of the most important is its ability to suppress soil-borne diseases. These plant pathogens live in the soil and must make contact with a plant’s foliage to infect it, so they can be prevented by keeping the soil around the roots as dry as possible. Mulch prevents splashing from rain or irrigation, which would carry the pathogens up to the lower leaves and infect them.

It Improves Soil Quality

Agricultural soils are often depleted of nutrients due to the heavy use of conventional fertilizers and the removal of organic material by machines such as harvesters and mowers. Mulch helps to add nutrients back into the soil, improving its quality and increasing its ability to support a healthy crop.

It Reduces Soil Degradation

Soil degradation is a serious problem for sustainable agriculture and can result in reduced yields, decreased crop quality, and loss of water and nutrients. Organic mulches are an important tool in reducing soil degradation by adding organic material to the soil and maintaining proper moisture levels, which reduces the need for excessive tillage.

It Increases Soil Organic Matter

Soils with high organic matter have a better structure and greater water holding capacity, which can lead to healthier plants. The use of organic mulches is beneficial to the environment as it decreases the amount of land that needs to be cleared for farming and provides a source of carbon that can be recycled into the soil.

It Retains Heat

Organic matter also acts as an insulator, helping to retain soil heat. This can be helpful in colder climates, as it keeps the ground warm during the winter and protects plants from frost. In addition, it reduces erosion and flooding during rainstorms.

It Prevents Soil Erosion

A major reason for putting mulch on a garden is to keep soil erosion to a minimum, but this can be difficult when the area is constantly being walked over and compacted by foot traffic or machinery. Using biodegradable mulch will ensure that the soil is protected and allows for a healthier garden space without limiting access to the area.