Mulching in Utah & Arizona

Mulching offers a range of practical benefits for all your greenery. It is a cost-effective solution that has a long-term impact on soil stability, making it important for any landscape maintenance plan.

Key Benefits of Mulching:

• Root Protection: Mulch insulates soil, helping to protect plant and tree roots from extreme temperatures and moisture loss. Research shows that mulch allows tree and shrub roots to grow farther and establish more effectively than in uncovered soil.²

  Source:

  ²Impact of Mulches on Landscape Plants and the Environment. (2007) https://jeh.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/jenh/25/4/article-p239.xml.
• Moisture Retention: Bare soil is easily compacted by heat, wind, and foot traffic, which causes it to lose moisture through evaporation and makes it harder for water from rain or irrigation to soak in effectively³. Mulch helps the soil retain moisture longer, which is beneficial in arid and drought-prone areas.

  Source:

  ³Impact of Mulches on Landscape Plants and the Environment. (2007) https://jeh.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/jenh/25/4/article-p239.xml.
• Weed Suppression: A layer of mulch reduces sunlight exposure at the soil surface, which helps prevent the germination of weeds. Mulching is an effective and environmentally friendly way to combat weeds, and it is more cost-effective than other weed control methods.⁴

  Source:

  ⁴Mulching and Weed Management Towards Sustainability. (2021) https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-33-4203-3_8.
• Soil Enrichment: As organic mulch decomposes, it releases nutrients to the soil, which enhances structure and boosts microbial activity.⁵ This process supports long-term soil health and plant vitality.

  Source:

  ⁵Organic mulching positively regulates the soil microbial communities and ecosystem functions in tea plantation. (2020). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12866-020-01794-8.
• Erosion Control: Mulching has been shown to significantly reduce soil loss and runoff across a variety of variables.⁶ By reducing the impact of wind, rain, and compaction, mulch creates a healthier environment for root and plant growth.

  Source:

  ⁶The effectiveness of mulching practices on water erosion control: A global meta-analysis. (2023). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706123003208.
• Pest Deterrence: Mulches like cedar and cypress bark naturally deter insects and other pests. Our landscape professionals can recommend bark types that offer added protection based on your needs.