Get ready for a big spring payoff.

The smell of spring is in the air in Greater Columbus — not the smell of hyacinths or daffodils, but the smell of freshly applied hardwood mulch around trees and shrubs and other perennial plants.

This is the time of year when snowbirds and tourists return to the island. Everyone is busy cleaning the last of the summer growth from their landscapes. Many people will begin mulching their gardens ...

Gardeners everywhere extol the benefits of mulch to help suppress weeds, retain moisture in the soil, and regulate soil temperature. Some types of mulch can even add nutrients and enrich the soil.