Put Mulch To Work In Your Landscapes

   If certain areas within your properties fit into the profile described in the article, the following recommendations could be implemented:

• Combating over-mulching can be as simple as switching to a cyclical mulching program - divide your property into sections, mulching only one or two sections per year.
• On areas not receiving mulch, cultivation or turning of the existing mulch will present a fresh appearance. This "new" appearance, along with education concerning overall health, might override the powerful aesthetics involved with re-mulching.
• If a mulching program is to be practiced, steps need to be taken prior to the application. Where levels are minimal, cultivation or turning over the existing mulch will break up any layering and aid in the decomposition of the existing mulch. Obviously, the thinner the new cover, the more prudent. Where levels are already excessive, cultivation will be of some benefit.
• Another option, agreeably expensive, is the removal of excess mulch. This material can be added to any on-site composting project for future planting use, or added to beds that require more mulch now.