Mulch can be a great addition to your condo landscaping, helping to keep the roots of your trees, shrubs and plants cool, retaining moisture in the soil and preventing weeds. Typically, we recommend a layer of one to two inches. However, it is possible to have too much, or not enough, of a good thing. It could be that your condo property is improperly mulched.

Watch out for these common signs of improper mulching on your condo property:

1. Stress on plants

Proper mulching can help your plants stay healthy, but too much mulch can cause them stress. Excess mulch can starve your plants’ roots of oxygen and may not allow enough water through to the soil. Watch for signs of stress on your plants, including yellowing leaves and slow growth.

2. Perennials are late or no-shows

Another sign that you’ve over-mulched your garden beds is that your perennials have not reappeared after the winter, or it took them longer than usual to grow. Over-mulching can prevent perennials from getting the sunlight and water that they need to bounce back in the spring.

3. More weeds

When it comes to under-mulching, one of the most obvious signs is that you have weeds in your beds or around trees and shrubs. When applied properly, mulch can stop weeds from taking hold, but if you don’t apply enough, you won’t get this benefit.

4. Visual appearance

One of the easiest ways to tell whether your garden beds have been under- or over-mulched is to do a visual check. If there’s not enough mulch, you will see gaps and bare spots where the soil is exposed. If there’s too much mulch, you will notice that the area looks bulky and visually overwhelms the space.

At TLC Landscaping, we can maintain your condo property to ensure your plants are healthy year-round. Contact our team to learn more about our services.