Commentary by Bob Wasson
What scent do you associate most closely with spring? The fragrance of hyacinths in full bloom? A whiff of warm, moist air wafting its way to Indiana from the Gulf of Mexico? The unmistakable aroma of mulch in your neighbor’s back yard?
Whether you hold your nose or inhale as deeply as you possibly can, the scent of mulch in the air is an undeniable sign that spring is here!
Mulch is one of the most essential ingredients in a healthy garden for these four reasons:
• Mulch helps conserve moisture in the soil and keeps the roots of your plants cool.
• Mulch enriches the soil, making your flowers more beautiful and your fruit and vegetables more productive.
• Mulch is an effective way to control weeds. It blocks sunlight, preventing pesky, unwanted seed from germinating.
• Mulch will make your yard more attractive. It can help transform an ordinary outdoor space into a garden that is stunningly beautiful.
Organic mulch is comprised of everything from manure, compost and grass clippings to shredded leaves, peat moss and tree bark. It typically is applied around trees, shrubs, flowerbeds and vegetable gardens. Mulch layers are usually two inches deep – sometimes more.
If you’re like the average weekend gardener, you probably have lots of questions about mulching. Questions like “how much to buy,” “when is the best time to apply,” and “what kind of mulch should I use.”
These are all good reasons to stop by your neighborhood nursery or talk with a professional landscaper. They’ll make sure the next time you get a whiff of fresh mulch, it isn’t coming from your next door neighbor’s yard, but from your own.
