For many homeowners mulching is the perfect way to protect your trees, shrubs, and lawn from excessive damage. Whether you are protecting your driveway, your sidewalk, or simply trying to prevent water damage on your decking and siding mulching is an excellent and economical way to do so. In fact, mulch can be a quite economical way to protect the soil in your garden too! When applied to the topsoil of your garden it acts as a sponge and soaks up moisture from the ground around it. The more saturated the soil is with this water the more difficult it will be for weeds to grow in.

As time passes mulch starts to break down. This process of breakdown is nothing new, over time your mulch will become less able to absorb water and nutrients. If you live in an area where it snows or you have a drought condition your lawn will quickly see a decline in its water carrying capacity. What you might not realize is that without the protection and supplementation provided by mulch your lawn will quickly become bare and brown.

One of the most common mistakes made is applying mulch too close to the base of a tree. Mulch is designed to act as a cushion and waterproofing agent, it does not have the power to completely stop a tree from taking root in your yard. The mulch is often applied too close to the tree and when the tree eventually tries to shoot out it creates erosion that can damage the lawn.

Another danger of mulch is using it to cover up existing tree stumps. Tree stumps can be very dangerous because of their height, they can cause injury to people walking along the sidewalk or driveway if they are blocked by the mulch. Stumps are also very unsightly and often lead to vandalism or ugly grass. Over the years the tree stumps have become more of a liability because homeowners are required to have them removed by a city agency. By eliminating the stumps you are reducing the liability of the homeowner.

Not all mulch is created equal. Some mulch is manufactured from organic material, which may contain traces of harmful chemicals. Other mulch is manufactured from decomposed sawdust which is a more natural substance. Both of these types are better for your environment and better for your lawn because they decompose at a slower rate than other manufactured mulches.

Excessive watering is the biggest single cause of damaged flower beds and trees. If you find that your lawn is suffering from excessive water usage, you should consider using a mulch with finer fibers. A finer mulch will retain more water and reduce the amount of moisture seeping into the ground below it.

One type of mulch that can cause problems is wood mulch. Wood mulch tends to rot due to its porous structure. Over time the wood will break down and expose the contents of the mulch. The resulting overflow of organic matter can damage nearby trees, shrubs, and plants.

In areas of heavy tree growth, it is essential that you properly remove tree stumps. Stump removers are available and are fairly inexpensive. Once you have removed the tree stumps you should thoroughly clean up the area. Thoroughly sweep away any debris and place a cover over the area. You should check back often to ensure that no new stumps have been planted to replace those that you have removed. Mulch is an important part of protecting your trees and is an essential part of keeping your lawn looking good. Mulch Chicago can help in making sure that mulch is properly installed.