After a long, cold winter, a fresh bed of mulch is a sure sign of spring!
Reasons to Mulch
– adds color and texture while completing the overall-appeal of your garden
– keeps soil from flushing away in heavy rain and watering
– helps retain moisture
-stifles weeds and holds them back a little longer
-keeps soil cooler in summer and warmer in winter
Types of Mulch
While one mulch is not necessarily better than another, there are several choices and each comes with its pros and cons. Most mulches are made of natural matter such as bark and wood chips. These mulches break down over time; therefore, should be replaced each year (or two, if stretched). Colored mulches, such as red and black, are made by adding dye to natural mulches.
Mulch is sold in bags or bulk. We stock red and black Hardwood as well as Root Mulch in bulk. It is purchased by the yard and available for pick-up or delivery. We offer a larger selection in bags: red, black, and natural Hardwood; red, black, and natural Cedar, Pine Bark mulch and nuggets, Root Mulch and Playground Mulch. We carry bags of Red and Brown Rubber Mulch too!
Tips for Mulching
–March is for Mulch. The end of March is a great time to rake up remaining leaves and re-mulch your flower beds. It will spruce up the space and help warm the soil for early plantings.
–Weed out Waste. Always weed before applying new mulch.
-Scruff up the Surface. Rake over the surface to loosen the top layer of soil.
-Fertilize First. Before laying down a fresh layer of mulch, take time to fertilize Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Dogwoods, Hollies and more. Espoma, a local company from Millville/Vineland, NJ, produces several easy-to-apply granular fertilizers, including Holly-Tone which is specifically formulated for evergreens and acid-loving plants.
-How much mulch? More is not always better when it comes to mulch. Laying it on too thick may smother young plants so strive for a depth of 2-3 inches. Do not mound around stems or trunks; instead, keep mulch 2-3 inches away from the base of plants and 6-12 inches away from structures to prevent pests from coming too close. And remember, when mulching around trees and large shrubs, the mulch ring should reach just beyond the drip-line so that it covers most of its root system. Finally, to figure out how much mulch you’ll need, roughly measure the length and width of your beds to find the area of space and we can help you from there!