Mulch is one of those landscaping materials that should probably get more recognition for its contribution to a beautiful property. Mulch is typically used to preserve the moisture in the soil or reduce the incidence of weeds, but it can also be used to boost the aesthetic appeal of your yard in a big way.
Here are some creative mulch ideas that will enhance the look of your property and leave you wondering why you didn’t think of it sooner.
A Natural Mulch Pathway
One of the best things you can do to keep that “natural” feel in your yard is to have a mulch pathway or walkway. Mulch that is made from shredded or chipped bark, compost, shredded leaves and straw will closely replicate the forest floor and will blend in nicely with your existing gardens and landscaping. Of course, you can choose whichever mulch materials you want that work for your outdoor space, and choose border materials that complement your landscape design.
Highlighting Stone Backyard Features
Having stone features in your backyard gives it a stoic kind of appeal and is a popular choice in many modern landscape plans. When you use mulch to accentuate the stone features in your yard, the stones will pop out and draw attention. Some of the ways you can use it to highlight stones in your yard include:
- Outlining stone steps that lead to a water feature or pool
- Outlining a stone pathway that leads to your house, a garden or some other area of your yard
- Using mulch to fill in a small bed at the base of a stone statue or feature
- Using dark colored mulch against lighter stones or vice versa for added contrast
There are many different ways to make this work, and sometimes it just takes some imagination to find the layout and the type that work the best for your property.
Creating Unity Between Different Features
It’s not uncommon for some backyards to have lovely features that look kind of lonely or out of place on their own. The ideas may have been great and the features are exactly what you’d want in landscape design, but they just don’t seem to fit together in the same yard.
This is where some strategically positioned mulch can come in and save the day. Whether it is gardens, water features, seating areas, statues or some combination of out-of-place items, mulch will tie the different areas together so they look uniform and all part of the same idea or a big picture.
Framing Different Elements of Your Yard
Mulch can bring things together so they look like part of the same picture, or it can separate them if they seem to blend together without any real identity. If your yard lacks organization and order, then use mulch as a picture frame to keep it neat and allow different elements to stand on their own. Some of the areas that may deserve their own space and would benefit from mulch borders include flower beds, vegetable beds, stone features or seating areas. Mulch can also create a nice border between softer landscaped areas and hardscapes like patios so there is a differentiation between the two.
Boosting Your Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is something almost every homeowner focuses on, whether you are in the process of selling your home or not. There are many different tips and techniques to help improve curb appeal, but using mulch may be one of the least expensive and easy to implement. In the front of the house, you can use mulch for walkways, around flower beds, at the base of plants and shrubs or to highlight different features. One technique many homeowners use is to use a color that contrasts with the color of the siding so the house stands out and gets the attention it deserves.
Mulch is a multi-dimensional tool that every homeowner should have in their repertoire to help improve the look and the overall function of your outdoor spaces.
If you are looking for a trustworthy landscaping team in Kansas City, contact High Prairie Outdoors!
