If you have mulch in your landscape beds, you may wonder whether it's necessary to replenish it. The answer is yes because it consists of natural, organic materials that decompose over time. While it'll release nutrients into the soil as it breaks down, it loses its other beneficial properties. Replenishing it will ensure your plants reap all its health benefits, such as soil temperature regulation, moisture retention, weed suppression, and more. Additionally, fresh mulch will enhance the aesthetic appeal of your landscape beds, making them stand out and look well-maintained. Here in Michigan, you'll want to replenish it every year in the spring, as this is the best frequency and time to do so.

Replenishing the mulch in your landscape beds will ensure your plants reap all its health benefits.

Arguably, the most important reason to replenish the mulch in your landscape beds is to ensure your plants reap all its health benefits. One of these benefits includes releasing nutrients into the soil as it decomposes, but it loses its other beneficial properties when it does. When you refresh it, it does the following:

  • Regulates soil temperature: Mulch regulates soil temperature by keeping it cool during the hot summers and insulating it during the winters, which protects the roots of your plants from extreme fluctuations.
  • Retains moisture within the soil: Because mulch covers the top of your landscape beds, it reduces sun evaporation and aids in retaining moisture to keep your plants hydrated for longer.
  • Suppresses weed growth: Mulch prevents weed seeds from reaching the soil in your landscape beds and blocks any existing ones from accessing the resources they need to grow.
  • Reduces soil erosion: Mulch helps hold soil in place, preventing it from washing away during heavy rainfall that would otherwise reduce its beneficial nutrients for your plants.

Replenishing mulch will enhance the aesthetic appeal of your landscape beds.

Another reason why it's necessary to replenish the mulch in your landscape beds is it'll enhance their aesthetic appeal! Fresh mulch makes them look manicured and well-maintained, whereas when it's not, it makes them appear messy and unkempt. It also makes your plants stand out more, turning them into the center of attention!

You can choose from various mulch types to suit your aesthetic preferences, including brown, red, or black-dyed bark, cedar bark, and shredded wood mulch.

When and how often should you replenish the mulch in your landscape beds?

To ensure your landscape beds reap all the intended benefits of a mulch ground cover, you'll want to replenish it every year in the spring. Doing this annually will keep it fresh and provide optimal results for your plants, and spring is the best time because it won't just boost the curb appeal of your landscape beds for the start of the new growing season but also protect them from the stressful heat of summer. This season is also when many weeds are germinating, so it'll help you get ahead of these pesky nutrient sappers and prevent them from causing problems for your plants.

Call Us Today to Sign Up for Our Mulch Installation Service

At Rose Landscape Services, we offer our mulch installation service to residential and commercial properties in Grand Rapids, MI, and throughout the nearby areas, including Ada and Cascade. Our team can replenish your mulch ground cover annually in the spring to keep your plants healthy and your landscape beds looking great. With us, you can rest assured that we know how to do it right the first time and will yield nothing less than exceptional results. Call us today at (616) 293-0361 to sign up for our mulch installation service!