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Our primary delivery area is the
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Frequently
Asked Questions
What are the benefits of mulching?
How much mulch do I need?
Do I have to do this every year?
Which is the best mulch?
How do I apply the mulch around plants?
What about these wild moldy-looking mushrooms?
What about bugs?
Weeds are my enemy. Will more mulch equal less
weeds?
Q:
What are the benefits of mulching?
A:
- Moisture retention
- Weed control
- Temperature moderation
- Aesthetic appeal
Q:
How much do I need?
A: Most applications call for about 3 inches of total coverage.
On cubic yard will cover 100 square feet 3 inches deep. Estimate
your planting area footage and order one yard for every 100 square
feet that you want to cover with 3 inches.
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Q:
Do I have to do this every year?
A: We recommend keeping a 3 inch cover. In one year, you
may lose an little or a lot to wind erosion, water erosion, or decomposition.
More than 3 -4 inches and you prohibit air exchange between the
soil and atmosphere, less than 2 inches and the benefits are limited.
Generally, spreading a little each year makes the yard look great,
is a more manageable workload, & prevents weeds from establishing.
Q:
Which is the best mulch?
A: Review the benefits listed above. All of our natural mulches
provide similar physical benefits, the variance being in how it
looks. Some tend to physically last longer (Playmat, Chips, Northern,
& Southern), while others tend to hold their color throughout
the season a little better (Bark Fines & Shredded Pine), Red
Cedar & Shredded Pine smell great, & the Red Dyed is an
environmentally friendly recycled product. Additionally, Compost
as a mulch adds back nutrients that plants remove. Most important
is how the planting bed looks to you.
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Q: How do I apply the mulch around plants?
A: Spread the mulch in an even layer up to but not touching
the base of the plant. Piling mulch around the stalk or trunk will
rot the plants' base, possibly killing the plant.
A pitchfork is a good
investment for spreading all but the finest textured mulch, while
a straight metal rake is good for mid-season fluffing to restore
color.
Q:
What about these wild moldy-looking mushrooms?
A: Mulch is an ideal growing medium for many wild fungi.
These fungi spores are spread in the woods where the bark was originally
harvested, as well as in the wind in your neighborhood, and in your
soil. When conditions are right, they will grow. Occasionally in
"pods" a foot in diameter in bright colors. They are not
harmful and may be controlled either with garden fungicide or by
simply spraying them with a diluted bleach solution. We do not treat
our mulch with any chemicals.
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Q:
What about bugs?
A: Some mulches repel certain insects, but remember, mulch
is decaying organic matter. Bugs & microorganisms are essential
to the breakdown process that will enhance your soil. Keeping the
mulch to a uniform 3 inch layer, well drained and away from house
woodwork will help. If you have a problem in your yard consult an
expert or try one of several products from the hardware store.
Q:
Weeds are my enemy. Will more mulch equal less weeds?
A: Yes, but it is simply not practical or good for your plants
to pile it on too thick. Try a pre-emergant herbicide PREEN, before
you mulch to prevent weed from germinating, weeding or chemically
removing any survivors or those that had already germinated and
popped through you new mulch. Throughout the season, avoid adding
organic matter that will combine with mulch and break down into
a "planting medium" like grass clippings or soil from
trimming the beds. Then, next season, add enough new mulch to replace
what was lost naturally. The longer & more steadily you keep
up this routine, the easier it becomes.
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