Mulch Prevents Erosion
Bare soil is vulnerable to the elements. Wind, rain, and even sprinkler splatter can cause unprotected soil to erode. Erosion causes a multitude of problems for your plants.
Erosion depletes vital nutrients from the soil. Plants need a healthy diet in order to survive. Erosion saps the soil of important nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, which must remain on the menu for your plant to thrive.
Mulched not only deters erosion, it provides much-needed nutrients for the soil as it breaks down, aided by the daily business of worms and other organisms.
Mulch Slows Evaporation
Nutrients are important but so is water. Bare soil is left to bake in the sun which drastically increases the rate of evaporation. Malnourished plants, potentially suffering from exposed roots, will wilt from moisture stress.
Mulch provides an excellent barrier to prevent the sun from reaching the soil thus minimizing evaporation.
Mulch Prevents Weed Growth
When weed seeds are exposed to the sun, they germinate. When they are buried beneath a layer of mulch, they do not germinate. It’s almost too good to be true. If you have spent long hours weeding your flowerbed, you really must do yourself the favor of properly mulching before you call the job finished. The weeds will be back before you know it, and you’ll have the job to do all over again.