A healthy, beautiful garden is a wonderful sight, and gardening itself is a popular hobby. In fact, according to GreenPal, around 25% of U.S. households garden. A key part of keeping the plants in your garden happy is ensuring they enjoy ideal conditions. Read on to learn how adding mulch is one of the best ways to keep your garden healthy.

1. Reduce Moisture Loss

Sunlight and heat result in moisture evaporation, which means that when you water your plants, some of that water is lost because it becomes vapor. Mulch holds moisture in the soil, blocking heat and sunlight that could result in dryness.

2. Provide Nutrition

Organic mulches like leaves and wood chips break down over time. According to Bob Vila, this decomposition provides a form of food for plants, and these small pieces also provide a safe harbor for insects like butterfly pupae. One form of mulch that is particularly helpful in this respect is leaf mulch. As leaf bits decompose, they can provide nutrition for the soil underneath.

3. Prevent Erosion

Mulch stops water and wind from carrying topsoil away. While mulch isn't invincible and severe flooding can still wash soil away, it still helps block wind and more moderate rain from eroding your plant beds.

4. Block Weeds From Growing

Weeds need light to grow just like other plants. According to the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, mulch blocks light from reaching the soil underneath, effectively starving weeds of the light they'd utilize to photosynthesize food.

5. Protect Plant Roots

A few inches of mulch form an insulating layer that protects plant roots from cold weather. When winter is around the corner and you're getting your garden ready for those colder days and nights, a couple of inches of organic mulch can prevent the soil from freezing and harming plant roots. Also, Oregon Live notes that when moisture in soil freezes, that ice can expand and shift soil. Plants with weaker or shallower roots can literally be uprooted. Mulch keeps the soil at a more moderate temperature.

Place mulch at the base of each of your plants for a nicer, healthier garden. To purchase high-quality mulch or learn more about the benefits it can offer, contact our team at Blooming House Nursery today. We would love to hear from you!