
1. Moisture Retention
Wood mulch helps retain soil moisture by reducing evaporation. This means less frequent watering and more consistent soil moisture levels, which is crucial for the healthy growth of plants like blueberries and blackberries.

3. Weed Suppression
Mulch creates a barrier that reduces the amount of sunlight reaching the soil, inhibiting weed germination. This means fewer weeds competing with your plants for nutrients and water.
4. Soil Health Improvement
5. Erosion Control
Mulch helps to protect soil from erosion caused by wind and water. It keeps the soil in place, especially during heavy rains, and prevents valuable topsoil from being washed away.
Beyond its functional benefits, mulch also adds a clean, finished look to your garden. It helps define garden beds and pathways, creating a neat and attractive landscape.
7. Free Mulch Source
One of the most delightful aspects of our mulching experience was getting it for free. When a neighbor had a tree cut down, the tree service was more than happy to dump the chipped wood on our property. This not only saved us money but also recycled what would have otherwise been waste.
How to Apply Wood Mulch
- Preparation: Clear the area of weeds and debris before applying mulch. This ensures that the mulch is effective in preventing new weeds from emerging.

Wood mulch is a simple yet powerful tool for any gardener. Its numerous benefits, from moisture retention and temperature regulation to weed suppression and soil health improvement, make it an invaluable addition to our garden. Plus, finding a free source of mulch, like we did through a neighbor’s tree service, can make this gardening practice even more rewarding. If you haven’t tried mulching yet, we highly recommend giving it a go—you might be surprised at the difference it can make!