Why mulch should not be touch your siding

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Why mulch should not touch your siding

Mulch curbs weed growth, improving the health of your lawn, and boosts curb appeal, improving the value of your home. But mulch needs to be used properly to prevent common issues that can occur when this seemingly harmless landscaping material is placed too close to your home’s siding and foundation. Ensuring appropriate spacing between your mulch and your house can protect the home’s exterior while making the most of the landscaping and lawn care benefits.

Below, HomeServe explains why proper mulch placement matters and how to avoid common problems.

Is It Bad If Mulch Touches My Siding?

Yes, mulch that touches your siding and foundation can be hazardous to your home’s health. Mulch absorbs a lot of moisture — great for your grass as it prevents evaporation in the sun. When mulch absorbs moisture, it then provides a slow-and-steady supply of water to your garden when needed and reduces the need for watering.

But it’s a double-edged sword when it comes to your house, as those same moisture-trapping properties can lead to issues like foundation cracks and siding rot. When it rains, and water starts to collect, you want it to drain away from the foundation instead of being stored in the mulch. The more water pools up, the greater the chance of it infiltrating your home through basement windows, causing erosion that puts pressure on your foundation, or worsening existing cracks as it freezes and melts with temperature fluctuations.

Mulch also attracts pests like termites, which feed on the material and trapped moisture, and use it for shelter. When mulch runs right along the foundation or siding, insects and rodents have an easy pathway to your home. Termites can eat through wood siding and even chew through vinyl siding. Cockroaches and mice are also attracted to the conditions that mulch creates. Inorganic mulch does a better job at keeping pests away than organic mulch composed of wood and leaves, but even then should be kept at a safe distance.

How Far Away Should Mulch Be From My Siding or Foundation?

Mulch should be kept at least 6 inches from your home’s siding and foundation, according to Juan Zenon from Zenon’s Landscape & Outdoor Services. Farther away is even better, but a half-foot buffer will reduce potential for rot and other water damage issues from moisture retention.

In addition, mulch should be less than 2 inches deep near your house. The shallower it is, the less moisture it retains. While other parts of your yard might have 3-4 inches, it should be roughly half that depth nearest to your home’s exterior.

Wood mulch can also pose a fire risk due to its potential for spontaneous combustion in dry areas where drought is common. The larger the pile, the higher the probability it could catch fire as it builds internal heat during the decomposition process.

Wood Mulch Alternatives

If you just prefer to avoid potential moisture damage, pest infestation, fire hazards and other issues associated with organic wood mulch, consider alternatives. Gravel and stone are some of the top choices for landscaping near siding. They don’t hold much moisture, don’t pose a fire hazard and don’t tend to attract pests. Rubber mulch is long-lasting and doesn’t hold as much moisture, though it can get very hot in the summer and could catch fire despite a relatively high ignition point, according to Rubber Mulch Warehouse. While it’s still advisable to keep a gap between your home’s exterior and your mulch-alternative landscaping, the risks are lower.

Other options, such as straw or pine needles, also exist — but these may pose even greater problems than wood mulch. Straw is more flammable and attracts pests more. Pine needles won’t hold as much moisture, but they can also catch fire.

This story was produced by HomeServe Editorial and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.