The key to having a beautiful flower or vegetable garden isn’t just the flowers and seeds you choose to plant. A lot of how well your garden does depends on the soil or mulch you use. Sometimes deciding on a potting soil or bark mulch might seem daunting, but here are a few things to consider when making your decision. It really isn’t that complicated.
Using rock or bark mulch can be one of the greatest things you can do for your gardens this season. Mulch is essentially a mixture of material (usually wood or rubber) that is spread on top of natural soil to protect it against erosion or moisture.
Using a decorative bark or rock mulch in your garden offers many benefits to the longevity of your garden, but most people use it as way to boost their curb appeal and add the ‘Wow’ factor to their landscaping. Using bark mulch will also help plants keep an even soil temperate, as well as help to keep them moist during hot summer days. Mulch often helps prevent weed growth and offers less maintenance for your garden.
Want a Low Maintenance ground cover?
If you decide you want a low maintenance garden, decorative gravel might be your best bet. Decorative gravel or rock mulch is used as ground cover and is fairly easy to install. It is a low maintenance option if you’re not the traditional ‘gardening’ type. Most forms of decorative rock are mined from river bottoms so the rocks are smooth and pleasing to the eye. Rock mulch is also great for conserving water, since it allows soil to retain its moisture, thus allowing you to water less frequently.
Your Soil is Important!
Soil type is another thing to consider when deciding where to start your vegetable garden or plant your flowers. Before you begin planting it might be helpful to dig up a small area of your garden in order to see the kind of soil there. Generally dark soil is the best and usually contains more organic matter. Most garden plants will grow better in soils that have higher organic makeup. If the soil is brownish red or yellow, that could signal drainage problems or that the soil isn’t receiving suitable air. In this case purchasing some potting/topsoil might be beneficial. You can go to any home improvement store or gardening center to purchase a potting soil that best fits your needs. You’ll want to make sure it provides the proper amount of drainage and extra nutrients that will help your plants flourish.
Considering your ground cover options will help your garden succeed!
When you consider your options (decorative bark, gravel, or mulch), your garden will have a better chance at succeeding and becoming the perfect accent to your home. There are many options of groundcover to choose from depending on your level of gardening experience and preference. Just make sure you choose the option that suits you and your gardening needs. After that, the rest is simple and you’ll be ready for a great summer!
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topsoil
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/factsheets/misc/soilbasics.html