WHERE TO USE MULCH

Mulching is a very important practice for establishing new plantings, because it helps to conserve moisture in the root ball of the new plant until the roots have grown out into the surrounding soil. The growth rate and health of trees and shrubs increases when there is no competition for water and nutrients from weeds. Mulch also helps to prevent tree trunk injury by mowers and trimmers.  Mulch entire beds of shrubs, trees, annuals, herbaceous perennials and ground covers.

Mulch can also be used to cover trails, driveways, and play and natural areas.

WHEN AND HOW OFTEN TO MULCH

The best time to mulch new plantings is right after you plant them. Around established plants mulch is best applied in early spring. This is when plants are beginning to grow and before weed seeds start to germinate.

Raking the mulch at 4-6 month intervals will rejuvenate the beds and allow additional aeration to plant roots, which is beneficial for plant growth. After about a year (and on a yearly basis thereafter), rake the mulch bed, then top dress it with 1-2" of new mulch. Use care not to over-mulch

Our mulches, with the exception of Cocoa Shells, should be applied initially at 2" - 4" depth.   Cocoa Shells should be at a depth of 1" -2" and in an area that does not stay consistently moist.    Cocoa Shell information.

 See our  "Mulch Calculator" page for information on how much product to purchase in order to achieve your desired depth. 

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MULCH

Are the mulches we carry treated?  No!   We do not treat our mulch with any pesticides or chemicals of any kind.  We use only untreated wood materials for our raw material.   We color enhance our "colored mulch" products with natural materials.

Are the colorants safe for my plants and animals? Yes! The raw materials used to make the colorants are made from naturally occurring colors found in the earth’s surface. These colorants, as well as the other ingredients are specially formulated to be nontoxic to plants and animals.

How long does the mulch maintain its color? Color enhanced mulch will typically maintain its color for more than one year, compared to other mulches, which turn gray or white after just a few weeks.

Do the colors ever wash off the mulch? No. Once the colors dry, they are on the mulch permanently. You will not experience any color wash-off or leaching.

Will termites interact with mulch? Termites tend to interact with most forms of cellulose wood fiber regardless of the source or type. However, mulch is an unattractive source of food because of its small particle size (termites tend to prefer larger masses of wood). If homeowners have problems with termites in their area, the best course of action is preventative care. When placing mulch around a home, common recommendations include keeping a six inch trench between the top of the mulch and the veneer on the house. An additional preventative measure includes dusting the trench with a termite treatment on a yearly basis.

What can I do if I get mold in my mulch?  We have found that a little mulch maintenance will prevent mold.  Mold typically forms when there is an excessive amount of moisture or in areas where there is little exposure to the sun.   You can remove the mulch by simply shoveling and discarding.  The best preventative measure is to rake and rotate the mulch by shifting it around and flipping it over in the beds.  This allows air to flow throughout the material.   Mold grows when there is a lack of oxygen.   You can rake mulch in these wet prone areas every 6-8 weeks to prevent the mold from occuring.    The mold is unattractive, yet harmless.   There are no "products" to prevent mold from growing.  Just a little "old fashioned" labor will do the trick!