When you think of mulch, what do you picture? Wood chips? Rock? Gravel? There are many types of mulch, but there’s only one that you’ll always have right in your backyard — lawn mulch. Lawn mulch is a kind of organic mulch made up of grass clippings and leaves. You can spread this mixture of grass clippings and finely shredded leaves across your yard —the result is a healthy, lush lawn using materials that come straight from the source.

Benefits of Lawn Mulching

There are several reasons why this kind of mulching is so great.

• Weed Control: As a preventative weed growth measure, this eco-friendly lawn care is method reduces the need for harmful pesticides. Mulch kicks pesky weeds to the curb and discourages their growth.
• Moisture Retention: Grass clippings and shredded leaves trap moisture in the soil. It is especially beneficial during those dry New England summer months.
• Soil Enrichment: Because lawn mulch is comprised of organic material, it can restore nutrients, such as nitrogen, to your soil. This process isn’t immediate, however—soil enrichment only occurs when the mulch breaks down.
• Winter Protection: Temperamental New England winters can terrorize your lawn. Mulch saves the day because it’s a barrier that can handle inevitable weather changes. Covering your lawn with organic mulch will regulate its temperature and help prevent frost heave.
• Eco-Friendly: If you’re environmentally conscious, use this type of mulch to your advantage. Grass clippings and leaves reduce the need for these organic materials to sit in plastic bags in landfills.

Want to learn more about mulch? Check out our blog, Why is Mulching Your Landscape Important?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While we strongly advise mulching your lawn, it can be easy to go overboard. Two of the most common mistakes are:

• Over-Mulching: While mulch is a great tool, it’s crucial not to be overzealous. Like the average person, lawns don’t like smothering. Excessive use of mulch will block out the necessary sunlight that your grass needs to grow and thrive. To combat this issue, balance your mulching with your mowing, and you should be good to go.
• Mulching Wet Grass and/or Leaves: Wet grass and wet leaves will almost certainly clog your lawn mower. No one wants to deal with that! When either is wet, they become difficult to mow and put stress on your lawn mower. If that isn’t bad enough, wet organic material will definitely lead to clumps. Clumpy mulch is undesirable because it’s not easy to evenly disperse. Instead, try to wait for all your raw mulch material to be dry. That way, you ensure the creation of a uniform mulch that won’t mess up your lawn mower.

It can take a lot of time and effort to make your lawn the best is can be, but these tips will pay off in the long term. Don’t have time to do it yourself? Call on Dolan Landscaping. We’re expert landscapers with a long history of lawn care and landscape maintenance, along with landscape construction and installations. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you in your quest to have healthier, greener lawns year-round.