Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

There are many aspects to maintaining a beautiful landscape.  One component that often does not get enough attention is mulch.  Mulch offers many benefits to your landscape. Keeping your landscaping beds properly mulched is perhaps one of the easiest things you can do to help conserve water, prevent weed growth, and improve the overall look of your yard.

One of the major benefits of mulch in landscape beds is the fact that mulch helps maintain moisture in the soil.  Mulch provides soil with a layer of protection from the sun and helps prevent soil moisture from evaporating, which in turns reduces the need for irrigation.  Mulch also helps inhibit the growth of weeds.  This helps reduce the need for chemical herbicides and other weed control techniques.  Mulch also helps maintain soil temperatures by keeping it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.  Over time mulch decomposes and helps improve your soil.

Finally, mulch can be a great alternative for areas in which it is difficult to grow grass, such as very shady areas.  With a wide range of colors and textures mulch doesn’t have to be boring.  With all of these benefits in mind, the next time you think about maintaining your landscaping, don’t forget about mulch!

Palm Care Tips


Choose a palm according to how big you want it to be. A small palm will likely stay small. If you want a big plant, you must purchase a big one.

1. Give a large palm plant as much direct sunlight as is available in your house. Palms are native to brightly lit areas and large ones tolerate most high light situations in a home. However, small palms must be limited to two to three hours of direct sun per day. In the wild, small palm plants are shaded and only get full sun as they grow tall.

2. Water the palm once a week or slightly more often, keeping the potting mixture moist, but give the plant a two month period in the winter with less frequent watering. Good palm care calls for the plant to have a dormant period in the winter.

3. Use a salt-free water to water a palm. Palm leaves can become spotted and yellow from salts and minerals in tap water. To prevent this, use soft water or boil tap water. Let boiled water cool off to room temperature before watering the plant.

4. Keep the plant away from sudden changes in temperature such as drafts from doors or window air conditioners.