Mulch to do About Nothing...

Having a regularly and properly mulched landscape is important for a few reasons; mulching helps maintain moisture in the soil, deter weed growth and makes for a cleaner look in a landscape. There are several materials you can use to tackle this project – here are the pros and cons of each:

Pine Straw – This is probably the most common mulch used by landscapers and home owners. Installation is easy and it is the least expensive option, plus, it’s native (yeah, pine trees!). You can expect one bale to cover about 50 square feet so you will need fewer units to get the job done. Another pro is that it is a fine textured material, so it’s more likely to interweave and stay put in heavy rains. And the big, super pro about pine straw is that no trees are harvested to create the product. The one big con is that it doesn’t last as long as the other options and needs refreshing about 2 times per year.

Pine Bark/Cypress Mulch – This one gets the award for looks; most people like the way Pine Barks and Cypress Mulches look in their landscape. Other pros are that they come in a variety of colors – red, brown, black, natural – we’ve seen landscapes that use these colors in their designs and it looks pretty cool. The con is that it’s expensive and one unit only covers a few square feet (about 7-10), but, it lasts longer than pine straw, so you don’t need to replenish as often. PlaySafe ® varieties are certified for play ground use (less likely to splinter, etc). check out Stone Forest or contact us for some options

Rubber Mulch – Same as above, but it’s made of rubber! Again, comes in a variety of colors (even blue and green!). The biggest advantage is that it probably will never need replacing (which is why it’s considered a “green” product), but it’s expensive at the front end. Our experience shows that this is best used in a play ground or some kind of confined area; since the pieces never break down and “settle,” it tends to wash away easily – metal or timber edging will do the trick.

Aggregate – aka, Pea Gravel, Crushed Slate, etc – small rocks spread evenly to cover exposed bed areas. Ditto the Rubber Mulch – expensive at first to install (and a bit more time consuming, because it’s heavier), but you won’t have to replace. Just don’t change your mind – removing is a pain! There are many options besides the ever-popular pea gravel – check out Stone Forest or contact us for some options.

Its the Time of the Season - to Plant!!

Fall is traditionally a great time to plant – why? For a few simple reasons:

Cooler Weather
The lack of intense heat makes the job not only easier on install for the gardener, but also equals less stress on the plant. One big reason is that it needs less water overall and has more time to establish before the hot summer heat kicks in. Watering well upon planting is still key, but the likelihood of drying out is a lot less likely in this time of year. Proper soil prep and mulching is still required for ultimate success!

Plant is Dormant
You know how the doctor knocks you out for major surgery? Well, planting or moving a shrub or tree is stressful on the plant, so its best done while the plant is not in its aggressive growing season. Planting in a dormant period means less pressure on the plant to quickly establish itself in order to maximize its growing season. Basically, it just plain hurts less!

Your Landscape Will Be Waiting
Last, but not least, if you plant now, your landscape will be ready for enjoyment come Springtime! Happy planning!