Fresh mulch can really improve the appeal of landscape beds.
Mulching is generally used to improve the soil around plants and shrubs, but it also gives your flowerbed a clean appearance reducing the amount of time spent on weeding. It is used to retain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, keep the soil cool, and fight pest problems. Mulches are best used around trees, shrubs, and in garden beds where you won’t be doing a lot of digging, like front walkways and foundation plantings.
Black Mulch
Black mulch minimized nutrient leaching by shedding excessive rainfall. It also helps keep the dible portion of vegetable crops clean and prevents the transference of soil borne diseases from being splashed onto the plant.
Brown Mulch
Both black mulch and brown mulch can look natural in landscaping. The soil in various areas of the United States varies in color; some areas feature chocolate brown coloring while others feature rich, dark almost black soil. If you are looking for a natural color, choose mulch that most closely matches the natural soil.
Red Mulch
Red mulch can be applied anywhere non-colored mulch is used and features many of the same gardening benefits as traditional mulch, such as improving soil productivity, retaining moisture, and for use in weed control.