A thick layer of organic mulch works as a water conservation tool in a few different ways. The organic layer acts like an insulating blanket moderating soil temperatures and reducing evaporation from the soil surface. Naked soil exposed to the sun will heat up tremendously, whereas the soil under the mulch will remain much cooler, preserving the water that is in the soil so that it is available to your plants.

On the other side of the equation a layer of mulch can increase the amount of water that ends up in your landscape by improving water infiltration. The mulch layer itself is absorbent like a sponge so irrigation or rainfall is absorbed into the mulch itself. The mulch also slows the flow of water that may be coming from above or traveling laterally in a storm event. Slowing the flow of water creates an opportunity for it to penetrate deeper into the soil where plant roots are. Adding a mulch layer is to add a rich biological reservoir, with beneficial bacteria and fungi.  Subsequently insects and earthworms move through the mulch layer and into the soil carrying the organic material with them which makes the soil more friable and more absorbent. The decomposing organic matter also provides nutrients for the landscape, making plants stronger and more resilient, more widely rooted and resilient in times of drought.

Mulch provides other benefits too! A layer of mulch suppresses seed germination and weeds, making your landscape easier to maintain. In addition to the multiple practical benefits a layer of mulch makes a landscape look fresh and finished. Mulch can also be a suitable inexpensive trail surface. 

For all the reasons above we here at Terrain we are big believers in the value of mulch. As the summer heats up and the water cutbacks continue stay tuned for more water conservation tips.