Town Crier Articles

The Importance of Ground Cover

Posted on June 1, 2025 6:55 AM by David Carter

Most of us know ground cover in the form of mulch or pine straw. Mulch is available in various shapes and colors, with dyed-brown shredded mulch being the most widely used in residential and commercial settings.

Consistent with first-quality residential communities, ground cover is required for individual lots and must be kept weed free. Mulching should ideally be performed in early Spring on an annual basis for the best results.

Another form of ground cover includes pine straw, available in different varieties, it does not need to be removed annually. All you need to do is put fresh straw on top of old straw to revitalize the color and provide beds with new nutrients, so it’s really a renewable resource.

Benefits of mulch or pine straw include:

Protection of tender roots from temperature extremes, keeping the soil warm during cold spells and, conversely, cool during hot spells.
Conserves soil moisture by reducing water evaporation rates and moisture loss.
Protects against soil compaction by reducing the rain impact.
Encourages water infiltration into the soil, reducing runoff. This is probably the most important benefit, as it prevents erosion.

On this last point, looking at your garden space, it is important to check regularly to ensure your gutters and downspouts are properly connected, and that you have splash guards in place to distribute rain run-off. We have all seen mulch run off or washing out onto sidewalks and streets especially strong downpours. Edge guards properly installed can also mitigate mulch on the move.

There are other forms of ground covers including live plants and rocks. When in doubt or planning to change your landscape, consult our HOA’s ARC Guidelines available on the NTRA website.

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