Organic mulch makes the best fertilizer for lawn and landscape because it decomposes into the appropriate chemical balance to nourish the soil. Mulch has to be properly manufactured in order to kill harmful pathogens and produce nitrogen-rich material for plant growth. Many store-bought mulches, which are not appropriately prepared, actually leach nutrients from the soil. Green waste from jobsites at Hansen’s Tree Service is properly broken down into organic mulch. Feeding lawn and landscape with organic mulch lessens the need for chemicals, strengthens plant roots, conserves water and amends hard soil. We have a large stock of mulch on hand and can supply it for projects of all sizes. Our organically dyed mulch is the perfect solution for any beautiful, nurturing landscaping project.
What is it?
Mulch is a protective cover over the soil consisting of a wide variety of organic materials. One of the best ways to protect tree roots is to mulch! Mulch is an organic material, usually woodchips and composted leaf litter. Spreading this material out on the soil around trees will protect the roots from heat, cold, drought and lawn mowers.
Beneficial Characteristics:
- Mulch protects roots from temperature extremes by serving as an insulation layer. Mulched areas stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than the bare soil.
- Mulch conserves moisture by preventing sun to heat the soil and slowing the process of evaporation.
- Because mulch is made of organic materials, as it decomposes, it releases nutrients, improving the soil’s physical properties and fertility.
- It reduces competition from turf and weed roots.
- It protects trees from lawn mower damage. One of the most common human related stresses that trees face is lawn mower damage. Though the damage may seem minimal, after repeated injuries, a tree can suffer greatly from the wounds of lawn mowers. Mulch rings around the base of a tree will create a buffer between the mower and the trunk.
The more surface area covered in mulch, the better for tree health. However, if mulch is too thick, it can be detrimental to the tree. Mulch should be spread under trees to a depth of 3-5 inches. Mulch should be pulled back away from the tree at the base of the trunk. Piling material up against the bark of the tree will promote girdling roots and create a moist area ideal for insect pests and diseases. Ideally, the mulch ring would extend out to the drip line of the tree. If this is not an option, a minimum mulch ring diameter is 4 feet.
The Perfect Recipe for Mulch: When Hansen’s Tree Service decided to manufacture organic mulch, the company decided to create the perfect recipe to promote plant health. This took months of research at Ohio State University Agricultural Research and Development Center.
SOIL SCIENCE
- Carbon and nitrogen levels in mulch directly affect the microbial energy supply, which give your landscaping its lush green appearance.
- The fight between plants and microbes for nitrogen can greatly influence soil fertility.
- Low nitrogen to carbon ratio causes leeching, which refers to how the microbes in the mulch will rob nutrients from the soil and decrease plant growth.
- Ohio State University Agricultural Research and Development Center study determined that composed mulch versus mulch made of wood pallets produced much higher levels of nitrogen. – 20 to 25 percent higher.
- Isn’t all mulch organic? Organic may just mean that everything in the product is natural – that doesn’t mean that its premium blended organic mulch.
- Hansen’s premium blended organic mulch follows the recommendations set out from the Ohio State University study and resembles the matter on a rich forest floor.
- Hansen’s mulch goes through a two-year composting process where the mulch transforms from a nitrogen-burning material to a nitrogen-emitting product.
- During the composting process, pH levels are closely monitored to make sure it maintains a neutral level.
- Proper mulching techniques.
- Hansen’s has the latest dying, screening and grinding equipment. The dye is very safe, even around children and pets.
