Why Mulch?
Mulch is one of the essentials of good landscaping. It can be used to protect trees, suppress weeds, fertilize plants and retain soil moisture. Proper mulching helps in developing fine roots which enable the plant to take up more water and mineral elements than is possible under grass. If mulch is used improperly though, it can do more harm than good. Here are a few tips for good mulching practices.
Three inches of mulch is all that you need on the soil surface and only two inches if you are using a finely ground mulch. More mulch than this keeps oxygen and water from getting to the plant roots and causes roots to grow up into the mulch.
Keep mulch four inches from the trunk of your trees. Piling mulch against the trunk of a tree is called “volcano mulching” and it will damage the trunk, cause surface roots to form, and allow less water to get to the tree. Volcano mulching keeps the trunk moist, causing the bark to decay. The decaying trunk is a food source for mice, insects and fungi. This damage will eventually end up killing your tree.
Do not use landscape fabric under the mulch thinking it will make your mulch last longer. You want the mulch to break down and slowly become incorporated into the soil because this helps improve drainage in heavy clay soils, helps retain moisture in sandy soils, and provides nutrients to the plants.
You do not need to replace mulch every year. You only need to replace it if it has completely broken down. The amount of time this breakdown takes varies with the type of mulch. Always check the depth of the mulch on top of the soil before adding more. Scratching the surface of the mulch with a rake will freshen its appearance.
We carry Premium Hardwood Bark Mulch which is premium grade bark mulch, double processed and screened for size. This plant friendly, bark material is produced mostly from red and white oak and has minimal wood fiber. It also enhances any landscape with its rich, dark color contrasting with the foliage and blooms of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. This mulch reduces water loss, prevents erosion and minimizes weed growth. Premium Hardwood Mulch also evens out soil temperature which helps prevent damage from the freeze-thaw cycle and mitigates winter heaving. This is a light-weight, easy-to-handle mulch for all season benefits. It is sold in 2 cubic foot bags and bulk.
Here is a link to a hard goods calculator which will help you determine the amount of mulch you will need. https://www.midwest-trading.com/Hard-Goods-Calculator
Mulch delivery and pick-up begin April 1st.
Call 815-751-4162 to schedule
