3 Things to Know Before You Buy Mulch

Few things are better for your garden or yard than an ample layer of mulch. Mulch shades roots from too much heat, prevents evaporation and erosion, and its decomposition feeds the microbes in the soil, keeping it rich and healthy.

But what should you know before you get out the wheelbarrow and the rake?

Quality Control

Few things are better for your garden or yard than an ample layer of mulch. Mulch shades roots from too much heat, prevents evaporation and erosion, and its decomposition feeds the microbes in the soil, keeping it rich and healthy.

What do you know about the quality of mulches? It’s pretty tough to tell what exactly is shredded up in there. So make sure you purchase mulch from reputable dealers or greenhouses. The mulch available at gas stations and the like might be construction debris, which can have numerous chemical additives. At JK Enterprise, our mulch is screened so that it is not made up of huge chunks of wood. It is also double shredded to expose the finer innards of the tree, which means the nutrients come out quicker. We use local trees, so it’s not material foreign to the local environment. Every garden has different needs and aspects to yield the greatest output for its crops. Mulch will help your plants grow stronger and live longer, and our team at JK enterprise can direct you to the type of mulch that is best suited for your garden.

What Type Do You Need?

There are hundreds of types of mulches, and like anything else, much depends on where and how you plan to use it. Vegetable gardens, for instance, had best have something fluffy and light, like straw. Not only will it discourage the weeds, but it helps keep the soil from compacting, which is bound to happen when you need to tromp back there every day to collect your harvest.

A good general landscaping mulch is shredded mulch, any type, from pine to cedar to hardwood. It’s particularly good with perennial beds, since it won’t pose too much of a problem when you need to dig in there occasionally. It’s also fine for use under trees, but, since smaller particles break down faster, they will need refreshing more often. If you want to save yourself some labor, you can put wood chips or nuggets under trees. But keep them away from anywhere you need to dig, because they are really no fun to dig through.

To Bulk, or Not to Bulk?

Mulch comes in 2 cu. foot bags or in truckloads by the yard. It is always cheaper in bulk, but there are a few reasons you might want it by the bag.

Bags are easy to handle. If the idea of shoveling the wheelbarrow full, hauling it to where you need it, and then emptying it carefully around your beautiful plants holds no allure for you, bags might be the way to go. Bags are also ideal if you have no place to dump a truck full of shredded bark, or if you live somewhere that delivery costs would be prohibitive. Finally, you might want it by the bag if you have just a small garden that only needs refreshing.

For almost any other circumstances, bulk is the way to go. At JK Enterprise, we have both bulk and bagged mulch, and we can help you figure out the best way to go.

How much mulch

As you likely have learned in reading this article, mulch is a fantastic base to use when implementing landscaping plants, making flowers stand out, and when trying to make your garden look like a professional garden.

When beginning your mulch project, it is important to remember that there must be a fresh layer of topsoil before anything else is implemented. When putting down your topsoil, you can use compost alone, or add your compost to the native soil in your garden. By adding topsoil, you balance the pH level which provokes a healthy ecosystem of organisms that help your garden retain water, add nitrogen, and retain the already present nutrients. All of these aspects and more will help you to form a garden that your plants will thrive in.

Mulch will make your garden stand out by complimenting your plants, but it will also add benefits that you may not be aware of. Mulch will help prevent erosion by keeping the topsoil in place, and mulch will also act as a temperature barrier to ensure that your topsoil does not get too hot or too wet. Lastly, mulch will retain the nutrients that are helping your plants thrive now and in the future.

How Much Mulch Do You Need?

On average, between one to four inches deep of mulch on top of your layer of topsoil is the standard way to begin your mulching project. If you choose to add more mulch than this, your plants can be deprived of water and can die more quickly. In terms of over-mulching, you can throw down more mulch than you think if you are complimenting your landscape. But, if you are dealing with more delicate plants, you should put down less mulch as the plants will need airflow to breathe. 

Water is also a very important aspect to consider. If you have an area in your garden or landscape that accumulates a good deal of water, less mulch is needed. Mulch retains moisture, and you want to ensure that your area is getting the proper water drainage it needs.

Once you have discovered what areas of your property where you want to put mulch down, the rest of the project is rather simple. All you will need to do is measure the covered feet in area, multiply said area by the depth of mulch you wish to incorporate, and then divide that number by 324 to get the total amount in yards. Once you have done this, it is always safe to round up a bit as you can always keep some mulch in your shed or garage for further use.

Again, if you are having trouble deciding which type of mulch to buy, and how much of it you need, give us a call or come down to our offices at JK Enterprise and we will help you cultivate the garden that you have been dreaming of.

What Type Do You Need?

There are hundreds of types of mulches, and like anything else, much depends on where and how you plan to use it. Vegetable gardens, for instance, had best have something fluffy and light, like straw. Not only will it discourage the weeds, but it helps keep the soil from compacting, which is bound to happen when you need to tromp back there every day to collect your harvest.

A good general landscaping mulch is shredded mulch, any type, from pine to cedar to hardwood. It’s particularly good with perennial beds, since it won’t pose too much of a problem when you need to dig in there occasionally. It’s also fine for use under trees, but, since smaller particles break down faster, they will need refreshing more often. If you want to save yourself some labor, you can put wood chips or nuggets under trees. But keep them away from anywhere you need to dig, because they are really no fun to dig through.

To Bulk, or Not to Bulk?

Mulch comes in 2 cu. foot bags or in truckloads by the yard. It is always cheaper in bulk, but there are a few reasons you might want it by the bag.

Bags are easy to handle. If the idea of shoveling the wheelbarrow full, hauling it to where you need it, and then emptying it carefully around your beautiful plants holds no allure for you, bags might be the way to go. Bags are also ideal if you have no place to dump a truck full of shredded bark, or if you live somewhere that delivery costs would be prohibitive. Finally, you might want it by the bag if you have just a small garden that only needs refreshing.

For almost any other circumstances, bulk is the way to go. At JK Enterprise, we have both bulk and bagged mulch, and we can help you figure out the best way to go.