Brendan Wetzel is an established Bucks County, Pennsylvania entrepreneur who leads the Yardley Landscaping and Paving Company and provides comprehensive services, ranging from lawn aeration to deck building. One area in which Brendan Wetzel has extensive experience is in bed plantings and maintenance.
A critical aspect of keeping plants healthy involves the regular placement of mulch. In addition to fending off weeds, mulch serves to deflect sunlight during the hot summer months, which ensures maximum ground moisture retention and keeps the soil cool. In the winter, mulch functions as a heat-retaining blanket that protects and insulates vulnerable roots.
Organic mulches also add nutrients to the soil as they decompose over time. For this reason, they should be regularly replenished. One common approach is to add a layer of 2 to 3 inches every couple of years, as well as between a half-inch and an inch as a topcoat each spring.
With a proper amount of mulch in place, take care to aim water at the plant roots, rather than the breadth of the mulch bed. This will help to prevent excessive bacterial and fungal growth. After extremely heavy rains, take time to fluff up the mulch with a rake or hoe, which will allow it to dry out.
Brendan Wetzel 
