Question 1

What is the best mulch to put around a tree?

Accepted Answer

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The best mulches for trees are wood chips, bark nuggets, or pine straw. Depending on your goals, you may want to avoid using plastic, stone, rubber, or wet grass clippings. Plastic mulch prevents water from reaching the mulched areas of your tree, stones don’t offer any nutritional benefits to the soil, rubber can release byproducts into the soil when it decomposes, and wet grass clippings can lead to rot.

Plastic may prove beneficial in cold climates in the winter, but wood chips are the ideal option for most environments.

Question 2

Does gravel come in different sizes?

Accepted Answer

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Yes, gravel comes in different sizes, from fine powder to pea-, coin-, and even golf ball-size. Pea gravel is about 3/8 inch, while crushed stone gravel is about 3/8 to 4 inches. Most companies use a numerical system to assign a size, with the smallest being #10 and the biggest being #1.

Question 3

What size river rock is best for landscaping?

Accepted Answer

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There are a few factors to consider when choosing the right size river rock for a landscaping project. First, think about how you’ll use the rocks. For example, if you’re installing them as part of a water feature, medium-sized stones (ranging between 2 and 5 inches) often work best. Smaller rocks (from 1 and 3 inches) are better for walkways and pathways, while a mix of medium and large stones (between 3 and 8 inches) is ideal for garden beds.

Question 4

Do you have to be careful when putting landscaping over a leach field or drain field?

Accepted Answer

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You should exercise care when deciding how to landscape over a leach field for your septic system. You typically want lightweight materials that won’t damage the drain field’s perforated pipes. When adding plants to the area, select plants with shallow roots, such as grass or flower gardens. Trees with deep roots could damage the pipes in the field.

Question 5

How much will 4 yards of dirt cover?

Accepted Answer

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How much 4 yards of dirt will cover depends on how deep you want the soil to be. In general, a yard of dirt will cover 324 square feet for a 1-inch depth or 100 square feet for a 3-inch depth. Therefore, you can expect 4 yards to cover between 400 and 1,296 square feet if you keep your soil depth between 1 and 3 inches.