Should You Try Bark Mulch for Your Lawn?
Looking for the best material to treat your plants and your yard? Then mulch is perfect for you! Mulch is an extra layer of material you apply to the surface of your soil. It helps conserve moisture for your plants, improves fertility and the health of the soil, while also reducing weed growth, and–depending on the type you use–can enhance the visual aesthetic of your yard.
But there are many different types of mulch. One of the most popular types of mulch that we suggest is bark mulch. To figure out if bark mulch is the best option for you, talk to the experts at Pioneer Landscape Centers.
How Do You Know Which Mulch is Right for You?
The type of mulch you need is based on a few factors. This includes what plants you want to support, what climate you are in, and the state of your lawn around you.
Some plants need more water and nutrients than others and aren’t flooded as easily. These kinds of plants don’t require as much drainage and need a lighter mulch that won’t keep them from what they need to grow.
If you live in an area that floods or experiences more rain than others, you may need heavier mulch. Heavier mulch won’t flow away and will provide your plants with protection from flooding.
If your lawn isn’t in the best shape, you may need special mulch just to treat it and help bring it back to life. Combine that with plants and grass that can grow in adverse environments, and you may be able to regrow your lawn.
What is Bark Mulch?
This mulch is exactly what it sounds like, mulch made from tree bark. The bark is usually leftover material from sawmills, furniture manufacturers, and other wood products. Distributors collect the different types of tree bark and we carry them on our store shelves.
Because of the different kinds of trees, there are several different types of tree bark that you can get. We offer a few different types, including Redwood and Washington Cedar trees, for example. How long it lasts and how good it is for your yard depends on the type as well. Bark from a thicker and larger tree will be better for landscapes that need protection from being overwatered. For plants that don’t get enough water, bark mulch from smaller and thinner trees is better.
When Should You Use Bark Mulch?
The climate you live in and the state of your lawn have little to do with if you should use bark mulch, and more to do with what kind. The type of plant you have in your yard dictates if bark mulch is the best option for you.
Bark mulch is more acidic than most other mulches. If you have a plant that prefers basic (in terms of pH levels) for their environment, no bark mulch is best for them. Plants that prefer acidic pH levels include different vegetables, fruits, trees, and flowers like:
- Sweet corn
- Cucumbers
- Cranberries
- Blueberries
- Evergreen perennials
- Beech
- Willow
- Oak
- Azaleas
- Camellias
- Daffodils
What Happens if You Use the Wrong Mulch?
If you use the wrong mulch–too heavy, acidic, basic, or light–your lawn may not survive. It’s always important to get the right mulch to make sure that your plants live long and are healthy. These things can happen if you add the wrong mulch.
- Mulch is too heavy: This can affect the drainage of your mulch by not letting enough water in. If this happens, your plants will dry out and may starve from a lack of nutrients.
- Mulch is too acidic or basic: If your plants are covered in a mulch of the wrong pH level, they can miss out on the nutrients they need or be damaged by the mulch. Plants that require basic mulch but are covered in acidic soil may be damaged directly by the mulch itself, and vice versa.
- Mulch is too light: When your mulch is too light, more water will seep into the ground than is necessary. This will lead to your plant’s roots being flooded with water and drowned. Drowning a plant's roots in too much water can damage them beyond repair.
Contact Pioneer Landscape Centers for Assistance
If you’re struggling to figure out what kind of mulch your plants need, we’re always here to help. We have several kinds of mulch and can help you find what you need with the correct amount. Tell our experts what plants you want to care for and we’ll help you find exactly what you need. Contact us today.