Making the Most of Mulch

Pine bark mulch

Whether on the forest floor or in your yard, mulch is a natural way to help plants grow better. By conserving moisture, keeping soil temperatures cooler, reducing weeds, and slowly adding organic matter to the soil, mulch provides many benefits to gardens and landscapes. In addition, a nice layer of mulch makes any planting look better. Many materials are available for mulching. Which is best for your yard depends on your preferences and landscaping needs.

There are many types of mulch available – stone, bark and pine straw just to name a few. All of these mulches can be divided into two categories: organic and inorganic. Organic mulches are made from living things, such as bark or pine straw, whereas inorganic mulches were never alive and include natural and synthetic materials such as stone and rubber. 

Learn more about the properties of different types of mulch by reading the whole article, posted here on the Pender Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2012/07/making-the-most-of-mulch/

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