Water Retention and Evaporative Properties of Landscape Mulches

Abstract

The use of mulches in landscape plantings is increasing. Mulches have been promoted by water conservation, green waste reduction, and other programs primarily to reduce evaporation from soil. In addition, many of the materials used for mulching provide an improved aesthetic appearance for the landscape and provide weed control. Many different materials are available from composted products such as manures, sludge, and greenwaste to non-composted products such as wood chips and yardwaste from landscape maintenance operations, bark products from lumber mills, and rock (CIWMB).