Top soil and mulch are two vital elements in creating a healthy landscape; both are similar in that they are the top layer of material on the ground. Native top soil is the naturally occurring, uppermost layer of dirt, but the term is often used to refer to good, rich soil. Mulch is any loose material--shredded leaves, grass, plant debris--that is layered on top of the soil, usually under trees and around plants that need protection from the elements.

Obviously, the better the soil, the better the trees and plants that grow in it, but in too many places, construction and erosion have eliminated the native top soil. When this happens, gardeners and landscaping professionals must amend the soil, that is, add organic material--top soil and mulch--to enrich it. When the soil is dark with nutrients, you know you have excellent planting material for your yard.

Plants Need Good Top Soil and Mulch

One of the services residential landscaping companies perform is constantly checking the level of nutrients in soil and amending it with top soil and mulch to maintain its richness. In this way, they help to ensure the optimum health of trees, flowering plants, shrubs, and grass. Making mulch out of recycled plant materials is another method of returning nutrients to the soil, and, therefore, to the roots of plants.

Mulching is an invaluable practice in the yard, for it can reduce evaporation, prevent the growth of weeds, and protect soil from rapid changes in temperature. In addition, a thick layer of mulch prevents bruising to falling fruit, keeps muddy water from splashing onto fruit and foliage--and makes a garden look attractive and well-tended.