Mulch is important for outdoor plants. But container plants can also benefit from a little layer of mulch. Certain types of mulch such as grass clippings, pine needles, and cypress mulch will decompose and release nutrients into the soil. The mulch will also protect the plant’s roots from the sun and promote water retention.

Adding a small layer of mulch to your container plants can be an easy way to keep them healthy while being aesthetically appealing. Mulching is also known to conserve soil moisture and to encourage new and healthy growth with plants that have wilting stems.

There is no arguing that mulching around shrubs is an excellent way to keep these plants healthy. After all, mulch conserves soil moisture, suppresses seeds of weeds, and protects the lower stems of shrubs. In fact, cypress mulch seems to work best with shrubs. However, mulching takes a little understanding in order to work well with plants. 

For existing shrubs

For coarse mulching materials such as bark or cypress, make the depth only two to three inches. Add only as much to maintain the regular depth after deterioration. For example, if the mulch applied a couple of years beforehand has deteriorated to about an inch, add only an inch or two of the same mulch. Make sure to remove all weeds, rocks, and stones from the soil before applying the mulch.

People plant shrubs to make hedges around their house. These hedges have varied purposes, such as beautification, an attractive façade to cover an unattractive fence, creating privacy, or serving as a fence or screen. Often, the purpose or landscape determines what type of shrub or hedge will be planted, whether it’s just for ornamental purposes or to serve as a façade, fence, or screen. You can also use cypress mulch underneath to make the hedges more attractive and keep the shrubs healthy.

Planting and caring for hedges

Before selecting a shrub for your hedge, you need to remember these three things:

• On average, plant the shrubs one metre apart. It can be closer if the hedge is for ornamental purposes. Plant in a trench rather than holes and add some fertiliser and extra water.
• Prune the shrub tips often to get a bushy and dense hedge. Prune both tops and sides.
• Even for privacy or fence screens, the best height for hedges is one where you can reach to prune without a ladder.

Mulch is a by-product of trees that is spread over the soil in a garden. Mulch, such as tea tree mulch or cypress mulch, can do a lot for a garden, such as regulating the soil’s temperature, keeping plant roots cool during the hot months, and warm in winter. Mulch can also lock in moisture into the soil, prevent weeds from sprouting, and enriches the soil with nutrients.

What is tea tree mulch?

Tea tree mulch is a by-product of tea tree farming during the process of extracting tea tree oil from the Melaleuca plant. The mulch is the residue after the oil has been extracted. Tea tree mulch helps facilitate the growth of a healthy garden. It is slow to break down and has a pleasant aroma that makes it ideal for any residential landscaping project. Tea tree mulch is very much beneficial for ornamental gardens.

Because of Covid-19 restrictions, people all over the world have taken up hobbies that keep them occupied while they are quarantining and socially distancing from friends and family. This includes horticulture. If you have even a tiny space to grow plants, you can do this little hobby while staying safe at home and keeping a peaceful mindset with all that is going on in the outside world. Aside from monsteras, philodendrons, pothoses, alocasias, and other plants that have grown (pun intended) quite famous these days, you might also want to add some fungi into the mix. Why mushrooms, you ask? Like most plants, they play an integral part in our ecosystem. Plus, the edible ones are packed with protein and vitamins, which could be an excellent substitute for meat if you are thinking of eating less. Start your mushroom farming journey here. Don’t forget to get in touch with Labrador Landscape Supplies for cypress mulch, sand, soil, and other gardening and landscaping needs.