{"id":929,"date":"2021-03-13T22:35:38","date_gmt":"2021-03-13T22:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moyerlawncare.com\/?p=929"},"modified":"2021-03-30T22:38:22","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T22:38:22","slug":"how-often-should-you-replace-mulch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moyerlawncare.com\/how-often-should-you-replace-mulch\/","title":{"rendered":"How Often Should You Replace Mulch?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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No garden is complete without mulch. Mulch enriches the health of your plants and flowers because it retains moisture in the soil, suppresses weeds, keeps soil cool in the summer months, and prevents frost in the winter months. If that isn\u2019t enough, mulch also makes the garden bed more attractive, improves soil structure, drainage, and nutrient-holding capacity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Yes, <\/span>mulch is essential<\/span><\/a> to a thriving garden. But does mulch need to be replaced, and if so, how often do you need to do it? <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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When You Need to Replace Mulch<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Over time, mulch begins to decompose. Once this process starts, the mulch no longer serves the soil with the needed nutrients. Decomposition also means that the mulch can no longer retain moisture in the ground, and weed growth and erosion start to take over your garden bed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Fortunately, most mulch materials will last a year or longer. There is no set amount of time that the mulch will last in a garden bed. Durability will depend on the type of mulch you use, your garden\u2019s soil conditions, and the climate where you live.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

If you\u2019re unsure whether it\u2019s time to replace your mulch, the easiest way to know is to check the mulch each spring and consider its condition. It should look similar to how it appeared when you first laid it down. If that\u2019s the case, your mulch is probably ok for another year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

On the other hand, if the mulch is broken down into much smaller pieces and degraded, then it\u2019s time to replace it. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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How to Replace Mulch<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When your mulch gets to the point that you need to replace it, you can save yourself some work by merely raking the existing mulch out then adding a new mulch on top of it. There is no need to dig out the old mulch and dispose of it. While the old mulch is not as nutrient-dense as it once was, it can still contribute to the soil\u2019s richness. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Types of Mulch<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The<\/span> variation of mulch <\/span><\/a>you choose to use in your garden will largely depend on the types of plants you are growing and the local climate. For example, if you don\u2019t have many plants, rock mulch is an excellent option for preventing erosion while providing the necessary runoff for the plants you do have.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Other types of lawn mulch include:<\/span><\/p>