Mulch is a gardener’s best friend. It not only adds aesthetics to your garden, but it’s also a great investment in your plants’ health. Mulch helps to reduce water evaporation, suppresses weed growth, moderates soil temperature, and adds nutrients to the soil over time – Everything we love here at Green’s Lawncare & Property Services. However, when it comes to deciding when to lay mulch, timing is everything. So, let’s explore the best time to put down that layer of much-needed mulch.

Spring & Autumn Are Best

Spring is generally the best time to lay mulch. Once winter is over and temperatures start warming up, it’s time to prepare your garden for the growing season. Following any application of our liquid aeration or fertilizer, you should plan on mulching your flower beds to help retain all that nutrients.

Furthermore, autumn can also be a good time to mulch right after your fertilizer application. Doing so has many benefits, including protecting the soil from the harsh winter by providing insulation. Autumn is the season when trees shed their leaves, which can be a bonus as well. You can collect the leaves and use them for mulch instead of buying it, which would save you some money.

Summer Is Okay

Just like we don’t suggest you fertilize in the summer, we also don’t suggest mulching in the summer. The warm weather and direct sunlight could trap too much moisture in the soil, causing damage to plants’ roots. However, if you do, the ideal time is after a good rain so that trees, shrubs, and flowers get enough moisture. This can provide a great environment for your plants’ roots and increase their ability to handle drought.

Winter, Not So Much

In winter, as you may expect, you should avoid laying down fresh mulch. Plants go dormant in the winter and don’t grow a lot of new roots. Mulch can retain moisture and freeze the soil, which can be a bad combination for the plants. Also, a thick layer of mulch can create a breeding ground for pests, such as rodents, who love to make their homes beneath it. If you decide you need to mulch in the winter, make sure the soil is dry and just reapply an existing layer of mulch.

Fertilize Then Mulch

Caring for your lawn means knowing exactly when to do things, including fertilizing and mulching. But if you don’t want to worry about it, then hand over your lawn care to Green’s Lawncare & Property Services in Indianapolis, IN. Our team can take care of all your springtime lawn care needs, especially when it comes to fertilizing, aerating, and mulching. So, get your free estimate today by calling (317) 748-3153.