Here’s how to become your own mulch master
Mulch has an abundance of benefits. It reduces weed growth, maintains soil moisture, regulates soil temperature and adds aesthetic appeal. To make the most of your mulch, we’ve developed a guide on how to lay mulch to take advantage of its benefits and enjoy its look.
Before diving into laying mulch, it’s important to note that there are different types of mulch to choose from. The type of mulch you opt for depends on what kind of project you’re tackling. For instance, a vegetable garden could benefit from bark or wood chips, while colored mulch may be better suited for a flowerbed. Additionally, if you’re able to choose a day to complete the task, a sunny, warm day will be easier and more comfortable for you to complete it.
The first step in laying mulch is to prepare the bed where you will be spreading the mulch by removing debris and tidying plants. You should remove dried up leaves and sticks and prune diseased and dead branches from other plants and trees, and pinch off any dead parts of perennial or annual flowers. Finish this step by tidying the edges of the bed. To do this, you can use a shovel or spade to draw a defined line between the bed and your lawn.
If the bed is dry—say there hasn’t been any recent rain—you’ll want to water it before you spread new mulch. Since mulch helps seal in moisture, you want to set up the bed for the opportunity to retain valuable moisture.
Just because mulch suppresses weed growth, doesn’t mean that removing weeds shouldn’t be a part of how to spread mulch. By removing pre-existing weeds before you lay the fresh mulch, you’re creating optimal conditions for the soil and plants to come.
Shovel the mulch from your wheelbarrow onto the bed, or shake the mulch directly onto the soil from the bag, into small piles. It’s especially important to make sure you apply mulch around the base of any plants in the bed to protect them.
Once you have the amount of mulch you need, spread it evenly across the bed using your hands—make sure to wear gardening gloves to protect your hands from getting scratched by debris.
While the mulch cost will go up the more you need to use, you don’t want to skimp out and have it be uneven. It will probably take a couple layers of mulch to cover the entire bed, depending on its size. So keep shoveling or shaking out piles of mulch onto the bed and spread accordingly as you go.
The final step in how to lay mulch is to check its depth to ensure you have an adequate amount before moving on.
As previously mentioned, how much mulch you need depends on the size of your bed. However, when it comes to the mulch’s depth, the rule of thumb is pretty universal. To deter weeds from invading your soil, the mulch needs to be about three-inches deep. If you can see bare soil poking through the mulch, you need to add more.
Spreading mulch is a very doable task–even for beginner DIYers. When you do it on your own, you cut down on landscaping costs by only needing to buy supplies, and perhaps any gardening tools you don’t already own, instead of also needing to pay for labor and for the delivery of the mulch.
That being said, if you’re running short on free time, don’t feel you can do this task safely on your own, or if the project at hand is large enough to go beyond the DIY-scope, you can seek out the cost of mulch delivery near you and browse potential pros to tackle the landscaping on your behalf.
Finished Basements Plus was wonderful from beginning to end! First, they came out quickly for an estimate. I had 4 estimates and theirs was by far the best. (2 of the estimates were more than $20K higher than for the exact same work). Beyond their fair pricing, the work was excellent. They...
Finished Basements Plus Inc.Amazing job. Efficient and quick without compromising quality. Basement feels brand new. Would use them again in a heartbeat.
AffordaPro RestorationThis company went above and beyond with their work, chimney sweeps are usually pretty messy, but the clean up was spot on.!! Josh explained every thing that he was doing, and the things that he was checking to make sure the chimney was safe for me and my family. He was very professional,...
Supreme brick & chimneyFlawless finish and exceptional service. Custom Paint Jobs LLC is the only choice for me.
Custom Paint Jobs, LLCWindow Depot did an amazing job on my deck. I wasnt sure what I wanted to do, but their composite decking was affordable and will last a long time. I am excited to have family over, and I am no longer embarrassed by my backyard. Jeff and the ground crew were polite, respectful, and caring for...
Window Depot USA of Central OhioWonderful company to work with. Very easy to get in touch with and communicate with. The cleaners do an excellent job and pay close attention to detail. Fair pricing, always dependable which I truly appreciate. They show up when they say they will, and my home is immaculate when they finish....
Sparkle Machine Clean Co.Great job...edging and pre clean up went well with a great job with seal coat. Friendly, efficient and professional.
All Star Paving and SealingGood workers and they do a good job.
Mira ConstructionFantastic! Top Line was early for the appointment and very knowledgeable and took time to explain everything they had found during the home inspection. The report included clearly defined issues and what they recommended to remedy the same. The report also included many pictures to help...
Top Line Home Inspections, LLCMary cleaning service does an amazing job cleaning my home. They go over and beyond the cleaning services that I have had in the past. They are very punctual and thorough with cleaning my home, I’m extremely happy with the service they provide and I highly recommend them.
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
The best time to put down mulch is spring after the soil warms up. But there are other factors to consider, like wind speed and rainfall.
Get top tips for mulching your yard to help you get healthier plants, longer flowering time, and bigger harvests, whatever you're growing.
Making mulch for your garden does not have to be complicated. Find out how to make mulch using six different materials here.
From wood chips to grass clippings, we like to throw around the word mulch. But what is mulch, and how do you use it properly? Let's break it down.
What's the secret to a clean and tidy landscape? Check out these garden edging ideas to see all the ways to outline your lawn like a pro.
Sheet mulching is both an easy and budget-friendly DIY skill that can fully transform your yard. Let's walk through how to sheet mulch from start to finish.
