Mulch. It hides a multitude of sins.
But there are aspects of it that are criminal!
- It's a smorgasbord for termites.
- It's made out of discarded wood scraps, & contains chemicals that are NOT supposed to be in your garden.
- Some of it is made from the husks of coconuts, and can kill your dog if he eats it.
- Some of it is made from old tires. Ground up tires are not good for the environment, nor for your plants.
- It breeds fungi.
- The acidity that mulch brings is extremely counter-productive for the health & growth of plants.
And then there is the color.
I pretty much despise red & brown mulch, because the make the flower bed look paltry, sickly, and RUINS EVERYTHING YOU PAID FOR & WORKED FOR when you bought the plants and lovingly raised them.
The ONLY time I think mulch looks like a plus is when it is BLACK. Black introduces the maximum contrast for plant to look it's very best in photographs, and makes the house stand out much more effectively in a premium setting. It brings the WOW, even when there isn't any.
But, with all it's dye, acid, termite appeal, and growth-stunting other properties, I hate black mulch, too.
So, what is there to do?
Answer: Black Compost. It is the answer to every curb appeal mulch problem. Two inches of compost are just as effective against weeds as two inches of mulch.
Is it cheaper? No. It's more expensive. But if you are gonna spruce the place up, it sure beats the heck out of crummy marketing images of your yard, wasting a boatload of money on plants that won't thrive, and a dead dog. After all, compost is actually FUEL for your FLOWERS.
~Michelle Molinari
Lead Conceptual Designer, www.CurbAppealConcepts.com
Certified Property Consultant (CPC) & Certified Staging Professional (CSP)
SAR Staging Instructor, Staging and Redesign, www.StagingAndRedesign.com
President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com
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