Not only does mulch give your landscape a clean and polished look, it can enrich your soil, help to retain moisture, and prevent weeds. So what do you use?

Here’s what you need to know.

5 Materials to Mulch Your Landscape in Your Midland, TX Home

Here are five mulches to consider for your yard:

  • Shredded leaves
  • Shredded hardwood
  • Straw or salt hay
  • Grass clippings
  • Compost

Here’s a closer look at each.

Shredded Leaves

If there are trees on your property consider shredding their fallen leaves. All you need is a lawn mower with a bag attachment, which will collect and cut the leaves to the ideal size to be used as mulch. The shredded leaves work well as shrub borders, and can enhance the soil in flower beds and vegetable gardens since the leaves are rich in nutrients.

Shredded Hardwood

This is an option that will have a lasting impression. Shredded hardwood can cover for up to three years, and makes for a great finish to landscape beds, informal paths, and woodland settings. It’s also good for sloping landscapes, and areas that tend to flood.

Straw or Salt Hay

Straw, salt hay, and weed-free hay make great mulches for vegetable gardens. They retain soil moisture, suppress weed growth, and add organic matter to the soil as they break down. Make sure that the hay you use is weed and seed free.

Grass Clippings

Mulch from grass clippings is created the same way as mulch from shredded leaves, using a lawnmower with a bagger. Remove the clippings and spread a thin layer beneath shrubs and in vegetable gardens. For vegetable gardens, don’t mulch with grass that’s been treated with herbicides or pesticides.

Compost

Here’s a cheap way to mulch that adds nutrients to soil and is especially good for new gardens. Some cities collect yard waste, compost it, and provide it free to residents. Make sure, however, that this compost is “turned,” meaning that a pile heats up enough to kill any weed seeds and organisms.

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