Mulches control weed growth and erosion, improve moisture retention,
can add appeal, especially the inorganic types, and in the case of the
organic ones, add nutrients.

Landscape pros know how valuable mulch is to the maintenance of their customers' yards and gardens. It controls weed growth and erosion, and improves moisture retention.

According to the Grounds Guys, a provider of commercial and residential landscape management services, choosing the right mulch for your customers is a very important part of this process and they offer these tips
on doing so.

First, consider your customer's locale, their need for weed prevention and their desire for an
attractive appearance.

Does your customer need the extra nutrients that organic mulch offers? Bark, leaves, and newspaper are cited as the most common types of organic mulches. Shredded leaves are easy to get, but many people consider them unattractive so they shouldn't be used in formal gardens.

Or would inorganic mulches, like rubber or stone, which decompose less quickly and tend to be more attractive than organic mulches suit your customers better? But even though stone mulches can be eye-catching, they often need to be regularly cleared of leaves and other debris to look tidy.

Besides just using mulch, adding a layer of newspaper under the mulch can help keep weeds out of gardens. Using newspaper keeps you from using as much traditional mulch, and is generally better at suppressing weeds than mulch alone. And it decomposes.

One problem with using landscape fabric and plastic below a traditional mulch is that leaves, grass, and dirt can get on top of the fabric or plastic and decompose, leaving a place for weeds to grow.