Tis the Season for Mulch

Mulch is one of the most effective and straightforward ways to improve the health and appearance of your yard or garden. It helps with moisture retention, weed control, and soil temperature regulation, while also giving garden beds a more finished look.

There are several practical reasons to use mulch. First, it helps retain soil moisture by reducing evaporation, which means less frequent watering. It also suppresses weed growth by blocking sunlight from reaching weed seeds. In addition, mulch helps regulate soil temperatures, keeping soil cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, and can prevent soil erosion during heavy rains.

For organic mulch, there’s the added benefit of soil improvement. As it breaks down, it adds nutrients and organic matter to the soil, supporting healthier plants over time.

Organic mulch includes materials such as:

• Shredded bark or wood chips

• Straw or hay (used more often in vegetable gardens)

• Pine needles

• Leaves

• Compost

These materials break down over time and improve soil structure, but they need to be replenished periodically, usually once a year.

Inorganic mulch includes:

• Rubber mulch

• Gravel or stone

• Landscape fabric

These materials don’t break down and won’t improve the soil, but they’re longer-lasting and may be better for certain uses like pathways, around foundations, or in areas where soil enrichment isn’t needed.

The right mulch depends on your goals. For plant health and soil improvement, organic options are typically better. For durability and low maintenance, inorganic mulch may be more appropriate.

How to Apply Mulch

Applying mulch correctly is key to getting its full benefits. Here are the basic steps:

1. Clear the Area – Remove weeds and grass from the area you want to mulch. You may also want to edge the area for a cleaner border.
   

2. Prepare the Soil – Rake the soil to level it, and if you’re using compost or other amendments, mix them in before mulching.
   

3. Apply Mulch – Spread a layer of mulch 2 to 4 inches deep. Less than 2 inches may not suppress weeds effectively; more than 4 inches can prevent water from reaching the soil.
   

4. Keep It Away from Stems and Trunks – Leave a few inches of space around plant stems and tree trunks. Mulch piled directly against them can trap moisture and lead to rot or pest issues.
   

5. Maintain – Check your mulch periodically. Organic mulch will decompose over time and may need to be replenished once a year. Inorganic mulch usually needs less frequent maintenance.

Mulch is a simple and affordable way to care for your yard. By choosing the right type and applying it properly, you can improve soil health, reduce maintenance, and keep your landscape looking tidy year-round.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Spring Cleaning Jobs To Tackle

As the weather slowly starts to warm up, the next few weeks offer a great chance for an early spring yard cleanup. While getting the lawn and garden ready for the season seems like a big job, spreading it out over a few mild weekends early in the year can make it much more palatable. Plus, the vitamin D, fresh air, and exercise will do your body and mind a world of good after a long winter indoors. 

If you didn’t clean out your beds in the autumn, now is the time to do it. Cut back any dead debris and prune any shrubs or trees that are overgrown or have been damaged by winter. It’s a lot easier to do this before buds and leaves come which makes it more difficult to see what you’re cutting. With that being said, don’t start chopping away at spring bloomers until the buds have formed. If you’re worried about weeds, now is a good time to lay down your landscaper's fabric and mulch new beds. Just be careful to leave space for the plants that you want to come through. 

Don’t let those dead leaves and plant debris go to waste. You can fence off a small area for composting or purchase a tumbler. All that easy-to-break-down yard waste and future food scraps will make fantastic soil for later spring and summer planting. 

If you didn’t reseed your lawn in the fall, it’s not too late. Start by raking up any leaves and branches that have been left behind. Raking also acts as a massage for the ground as it allows oxygen to circulate. I always take it one step further and use an aerator to break up tough, cold soil which gives grass seeds the best chance for survival. Finally, reseed and fertilize to keep hungry birds away.  

If your yard is susceptible to crabgrass, using a pre-emergent will keep weeds at bay. Just make sure you take the proper precautions and don’t apply it near your new grass seedlings as it will kill them off instantly. 

Hardy veggies like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are best for early planting, as the same goes for peas as long as the ground is fully thawed. Spinach and lettuces are pretty tough too and can generally be put right into the ground in March if the weather cooperates. 

Finally, it’s too early now, but soon it will be time to start mowing. I always recommend setting the blade as high as it will go, especially if you’ve recently reseeded the yard. It’s smart to tread lightly in the first few weeks to make sure that the grass has time to properly root and get comfortable. Go too short too fast and you’ll have a complicated relationship with your yard for the rest of the season. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

What To Think About With Mulch

If you’ve been holding off on spreading mulch in your yard, you made the right decision. While it’s tempting to build a solid landscaping foundation early in the season, this week’s pollen dump made it tough to do the job. Luckily, most of the early blooms have now fallen which makes it the perfect time to start tidying up. 

Mulch might seem like an aesthetic gardening step, but it actually has a lot of benefits. Most homeowners use mulch to cover bare soil in flower beds, around trees, and in any grassless areas that are susceptible to weeds. Mulch acts as a protectant; it keeps the soil warm and moist while keeping unwanted growth at bay. Most mulch options are made from organic materials such as wood and bark, so natural nutrients are absorbed into the ground. Plus, mulch really makes a yard look neat and well-looked after. So if you’re sold on the benefits, let’s talk about the options because all are not created equal. 

Wood 

The most popular mulch is chipped wood or shredded bark which you can get from a landscaping store, lumberyard, or even for free if your town has public compost. Wood mulch is highly customizable both in color and size. Bigger chips give the ground more breathing room but they move around a bit more, while shredded materials stay put slightly better. In terms of color, you can always go natural or choose red, brown, or black mulch to match your home aesthetic. Mulch is colored using a vegetable dye which might temporarily stain any paths, walkways, or your hands. Don’t worry, it’s nothing a good 20-second scrub or a rainstorm won’t take care of.

Stone

If the area that you’re mulching is on a slope, I recommend going with pea gravel instead of wood mulch. Pea gravel is heavier and will stay put in high drainage areas much better than wood. There is such a thing as too much moisture and if an area tends to be wet, wood mulch can get moldy. Stone will allow the water to pass through easier without retaining excess moisture.

Straw

If you want to protect a newly seeded area of your lawn, straw is a great option. Not to be confused with hay which can germinate and produce weeds, straw will help grass seed from washing away and it deters birds and mice from a feast. It also naturally decomposes so there is no clean-up, but remember, this option is only for temporary use.

Regardless of what you use, I always recommend weeding your beds and staking landscaper’s fabric around existing trees and shrubs before you mulch. This is the best defense against weeds and it lasts for years so you don’t have to worry about doing it every spring. Whatever you do, don’t use plastic unless you don’t want anything at all to grow. Unlike fabric, plastic will cut off any oxygen to the area, effectively making it a dead zone for all plants, shrubs, and trees. Also, don’t be shy while you’re spreading. Weeds are strong and won’t be deterred by a thin layer. Go for a base of four or so inches to keep them from popping through. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.