At Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, Georgia, we are always looking for tips to give other gardeners to help them out with their garden plants. One important tip we have to talk about is moisture retention for your plants, which is always important, but especially as the temperature begins to rise and the days become more hot than not!

Moisture Retention

So how can you keep the soil you’ve planted in moist, even during warm weather? The answer is by using mulch. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines mulch as, “a protective covering spread or left on the ground to reduce evaporation, maintain even soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds, enrich the soil, or keep fruit clean.” Which is true, because mulch does all of these things! Did you know that soil without mulch can actually lose up to 80% of it’s moisture, but soil with mulch may only lose up to 10%? Crazy!

Types of Mulch

The different types of mulch that gardeners typically use include:

• Pine Straw

• Wood Chips

• Grass Clippings

• Leaves

• Newspapers

The type of mulch you will need depends on the type of plants you are working with. For example, certain plants (like those in your vegetable garden) may need a boost of nitrogen or nutrients from an organic mulch like grass clippings. However, some vegetables and fruits may be better suited with pine straw as a mulch, because they prefer more acid in the soil.

The following infographic from fix.com gives some great examples of what types of mulch to use on your garden plants. Check it out and see what type of mulch could work best for your garden!

If you are a hobby gardener or simply a plant enthusiast, we would love for you to stop by Whispering Springs Nursery for a visit anytime! We would be happy to walk you through our latest spring collection of plants and flowers in the nursery, and answer any questions you may have. You may even want to learn more about our wonderful landscaping design and installation services.  Whatever the reason, we look forward to seeing you soon!

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Source: Fix.com