There are many types of mulch, and one of the most popular is cedar mulch. This type of mulch has many advantages when compared to other varieties.
"Busy" seems to be the name of the game for the modern man’s lifestyle these days, but people still like to have the beauty of nature in their yards. Most like their flower beds and tree beds to have that "well-manicured" look, and there is no duplication of the scent that comes forth from the yard after a warm spring rain washes down on your fresh-laid cedar mulch.
The ambiance of peaceful silence is brought forth into the garden when you add cedar mulch to its confines. Cedar has the scent of gentle nature lifted into the air, and brings to you a sense of relaxation in the soul. Cedar mulch is probably one of the best things produced for the home garden and yard decor.
There are two grades of cedar mulch available. The first is the whole tree shredded up into mulch, and the second is just the bark shredded up. Whichever grade you decide on, you’ll be very happy with your decision to use cedar mulch. It is beautiful in color, has an earthy scent and is a great addition to any landscape.
Some of the other more practical benefits you can get from this mulch include stability, nutrients and its effect on insects. This article will discuss some of the advantages of using cedar mulch.
Resiliency
There are many advantages to using cedar mulch in your yard maintenance and decor; the first of which is because cedar is one of the hardest woods, second to maybe cypress. It is resistant to decay and this makes it an ideal choice because it won’t have to be replaced frequently.
Insects
One of the advantages of cedar mulch is its effect on insects. Cedar mulch is a natural bug repellent, keeping those unwanted pests away from the prize flowers and trees. Many organic mulches harbor insects such as termites, roaches, and crickets.
Cedar is a genuinely aromatic material, so it helps to repel many types of insects. Most insects don’t like living in cedar mulch because of its fragrance. In addition to its effect on insects, this type of mulch also helps control the temperature.
Temperature
Cedar mulch has a naturally light color. This helps control the air temperature around your plants. Cedar mulch protects your plants from extreme temperatures that affect the surrounding ground. This helps keep plants cool during the summer, while keeping them from freezing during the winter months.
A lot of gardeners like to use cedar mulch as it is a good mulch to use to insulate the soil. It controls erosion and slows down weed growth. It also helps to retain moisture in the soil. It is not going to break down and provide nutrients to your soil like other woods; so if this is what you want, mix it with some softer wood, like pine.
Stability
Another advantage of cedar mulch is its stability. Bark mulch is bulkier can easily be washed away by heavy rains. Cedar mulch is shredded into tiny bits, not unlike bark mulch. These tiny pieces will lock together and form a dense mat.
This so-called mat formation allows the mulch to stay in place better when it is exposed to heavy wind and rain. Besides being more stable than other types, this mulch also helps control weeds well. Compaction within cedar mulch will eventually and most likely occur; so when it does, it is recommended that occasionally you cultivate and aerate the mulch to keep the soil fresh.
Weeds
Cedar mulch is also a good choice to protect against weeds. This mulch suppresses weeds that are already growing by denying them access to sunlight. It also prevents the germination of seeds when it is applied deeply enough. As mentioned earlier, cedar mulch is naturally fragrant. This aroma also helps prevent weed germination.
Nutrients
One of the final advantages of cedar mulch is the nutrients they provide to plants. As you already know, the wood is shredded. This allows cedar mulch to decompose very quickly. When the mulch decomposes, it enriches the soil by supplying organic matter to the soil.
Summary and Conclusion
These are just some of the advantages of using cedar mulch. It is naturally aromatic, so most insects won’t like living in the area. Cedar mulch is also shredded into tiny pieces that lock together, so they will stay in place better when exposed to heavy wind and rain. This type of mulch also decomposes very quickly to provide the soil with vital nutrients.