In early spring, we installed a patio around this customer’s pool and they recently opened up the pool for the season. They were kind enough to let us come back and grab some pictures – and we’re glad we did because look at how beautiful it looks! We hope they spend the summer lounging on a patio chair and soaking up some rays. ​

As landscapers, we install mulch regularly. Most of our landscaping clients want new mulch every spring to freshen up their flower beds and enjoy a beautiful yard all summer long. However, there are more benefits to mulching your gardens than just aesthetics.
​

• Mulch helps with weed suppression. It does not completely eliminate weeds as they will germinate on top of mulch and some grow through the mulch from the dirt below. Preen can be added to the mulch to help even further. However, nothing works better than actually just pulling the few that come up every 3 weeks or so.
• Mulch helps retain moisture in the soil. As the sun hits, the layers of mulch particles will prevent evaporation of the moisture at the soil level. As rain or a sprinkler provides moisture, the mulch will allow it to permeate through to your plants.
• Mulch provides insulation from extreme weather. While the summer heat will try to evaporate the moisture in the soil or dry out your plants, mulch adds a barrier of protection. Likewise, frost can hurt shallow root plants and mulch keeps the temperature of the soil higher during those abnormally cold days. Additionally, mulch prevents the soil erosion during hard rainfalls.
• Mulch provides nutrients as it breaks down. Mulch is made up of organic material. As it breaks down, the material provides new fresh nutrients to your plants. This helps them to grow and flourish.

We are often asked which color mulch is best. While this is a preference, there are other factors in selecting a color. The three basic mulch colors are red, black and premium brown. Red and black are dyed mulches; they are essentially pallet boards sent through a grinder and blasted with dye. After about a year, the dye washes off and the mulch fades considerably. Also, the dyed mulches tend to take longer to break down and amend the soil because they are such large pieces. Oftentimes we find ourselves removing these mulches after a couple years because they don’t break down. For these reasons, we recommend premium brown mulch. This is a natural product and has not been dyed so it breaks down quicker and amends the soil. You do need to lightly apply more mulch since it breaks down; however, you will have more nutrient rich soil as a result. Premium brown mulch also remains consistent throughout the year and will not fade.

Clients also ask us often about weed paper. We do not recommend installing weed paper since the initial benefits do not outweigh the initial costs, future costs and trouble. Typically, if you install weed paper, you will enjoy a weed-free garden that first year. Then spring comes and you find exposed weed paper due to frost heaving. Since this doesn’t look appealing, you rip out the exposed portions. Dust in the air will also eventually settle on your mulch, allowing for weeds to germinate on top and grow through the weed paper. So, you will be weeding anyway. Additionally, weed paper prevents moisture from permeating through to your plants, preventing the nutrients from mulch breaking down and amending your soil. It might seem great to have no/low maintenance option but in the end, it will cost you later.