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    Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

    Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

    PRINCIPLE 4: MULCH


    Mulch:

    • For Home Landscapes
    • For Community Landscapes
    • For Landscape Professionals

    For Home Landscapes

    Mulch helps retain soil moisture, protects plants, and inhibits weed growth. It gives your landscape a neat, uniform appearance and is a great Florida-Friendly choice for hard-to-mow areas and shady spots. Keep a 2- to 3-inch-deep layer of mulch on plant beds. Always leave at least 2 inches of space around tree trunks to prevent rot. Create self-mulching areas under your trees by allowing fallen leaves to stay in place. Be sure to choose sustainably harvested mulch like melaleuca, pine straw or eucalyptus. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program does not recommend the use of cypress mulch, as it may not be harvested sustainably.

    Benefits:

    • Mulch reduces the germination of weeds
    • Mulch helps retain soil moisture
    • Mulch gives your landscape a finished appearance
    • As organic mulch decomposes, it improves soil structure
    • Mulch moderates soil temperatures, keeping the soil cool when the temperature is hot, and warm when the temperature is cold.

    Mulch is an important part of your community landscape. Apply a 2 to 3-inch-deep layer of mulch to help retain soil moisture, protect plants, and inhibit weed growth. Mulch gives the landscape a neat, uniform appearance and is a great Florida-Friendly choice for hard-to-mow areas and shady spots. Self-mulching areas can be maintained at no cost under trees where leaves can remain as they fall.  

    Benefits:

    • Mulch reduces the germination of weeds.
    • Mulch helps retain soil moisture.
    • Mulch gives your landscape a finished appearance.
    • As organic mulch decomposes, it improves soil structure.
    • Mulch moderates soil temperatures, keeping the soil cool when the temperature is hot, and warm when the temperature is cold.

    Mulch has many landscape benefits.  Two to three inches of an organic mulch should be applied and replenished as needed.  Mulch should be pulled back 1-2 inches from the base of plants.  No more than  a thin layer (1” or less) should be applied over the rootball of trees for aesthetic purposes if necessary.  Choose mulches that are byproducts to make sure they are Florida-Friendly.  Avoid using cypress mulch as it may be harvested unsustainably. 

    Benefits:

    • Mulching will inhibit weed growth
    • Mulch will help retain soil moisture
    • Mulch gives your landscape a finished appearance
    • As organic mulch decomposes, it improves soil structure
    • Mulch moderates soil temperatures
    • Clients will have higher levels of satisfaction
    Mulch Guidance


    Right Plant Right Place
    Water Efficiently
    Fertilize Appropriately
    Mulch
    Mulch
    Bumble Bee on Cone Flower
    Attract Wildlife
    Grasshopper
    Manage Yard Pests Responsibly
    Recycle Yard Waste
    Reduce Stormwater Runoff
    The waterfront
    Protect the Waterfront
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    Contact

    Feedback
    Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program
    P.O. Box 110675 Gainesville, FL 32611-0675
    (352) 273-4518

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