Simpson
It’s that time of year again when many homeowners start to think about their lawns. What should they do to get them looking good for spring? And if they don’t want to go through the hassle of seeding their lawn – or they just plain hate how the green stuff looks after it gets cut down – what should they do instead?
The answer to both questions is simple: mulch. But what exactly does that mean, and why would anyone choose this option over something like grass seed? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of each and see which one might be right for your situation.
Grass seed vs. mulching
When it comes to lawn care, there’s no shortage of options out there. You can buy a bag of top-quality weed control seeds (which will help keep weeds at bay) or use some type of fertilizer (like compost) mixed into the soil before planting. Or, if you have access to a nursery, you could plant a lawn using sod.
But all of these approaches come with drawbacks. For example, while weed control seeds may work well enough to prevent weeds from growing while you wait for your grass to sprout, they won’t do anything once the grass starts growing. That means you’ll still have to pull up any weeds that pop up later on.
And even though you might not have to worry about getting rid of weeds in the early stages of your lawn, you’ll still spend more money on weed control products than you would by simply applying mulch.
Another drawback of using seeds is that they only last for a few years. Depending on your chosen grass, they will die off naturally, or you’ll eventually have to remove them yourself. If you plan to replace your lawn every couple of years, this isn’t much of an issue. But if you’ve got a large property and plan on keeping it for years, you’ll probably have to replace all of your seeds sooner rather than later.
If you’re looking for a long-term solution, you’ll want to consider purchasing grass seed, which will continue growing as long as you maintain the proper conditions. The downside is that grass seeds are relatively expensive, costing between $5.99 and $10 per pound, depending on the brand. They also require you to plant them directly into the ground without any amendments, making them difficult to manage.
Mulch, on the other hand, doesn’t cost nearly as much, and it does have the added benefit of being able to kill weeds that pop up later on. Plus, mulch doesn’t have to be removed from the lawn if you decide to change your mind about it. It’s a win-win scenario.
So now we know that mulch is better than grass seed, but why should you use it instead?
Pros of mulch
Let’s start with the obvious. Mulch is free, so you won’t have to spend any money on it. You won’t have to do any work at all. All you have to do is spread some mulch on top of the soil, let it sit until the snow melts, and then water it regularly to encourage it to break down into the soil.
You also don’t have to worry about the seeds you used to plant dying off because you didn’t add any amendments to the soil. This means you can save money on weed control products, too.
Finally, mulch is easy to apply. Weeds tend to pop up in places where people haven’t put any mulch, so most people find it pretty easy to cover their entire yard with a layer of it. If you’re concerned about doing this during the first part of the season, you can always purchase a pre-mulched product. These are usually sold in rolls meant to be ripped apart and spread across the yard.
Cons of mulch
While mulch is great for saving money and making managing your lawn easier, there are a few things you need to watch out for. First, if you live in a cold area, you may face problems when applying mulch in the fall. This is because the ground tends to freeze hard, preventing the material from breaking down properly.
Second, you’ll need to ensure that you don’t have any plants growing nearby. Grass seeds are known to germinate faster than mulch, so if you have any flowers or shrubs near your lawn, the seeds may take root in the mulch, causing issues for you down the line.
Finally, you’ll need to remember that mulch doesn’t provide nutrients to the soil. So if you want to increase the health of your lawn, you’ll need to supplement it with nitrogen-based fertilizers or compost.
