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Nonorganic mulch, like river rocks, pebbles, or lava rock, technically lasts the longest. It helps with moisture retention and weed control but doesn’t break down and release nutrients like organic mulch. Wood mulch decomposes slowly, which can help it last longer than leaf or straw mulch, but it won’t provide as many nutrients as quickly as the faster decomposing types.

Regular maintenance involves raking or leveling out any displaced gravel, filling in low spots, and adding fresh gravel as needed to help prevent potholes and ruts. If you live in an area with heavy rain, checking the drainage and reinforcing the edges periodically can help prevent erosion.

There are a few different landscaping projects that can help reduce landscaping costs overall. For one, you can plant everything from seed and watch your yard grow rather than purchasing plants. You can also repurpose old materials from other home projects and do the bulk of your landscaping by yourself instead of hiring a professional to cut down labor costs.

If your mulch delivery company or landscaper installs mulch around multiple spots in your yard (especially if they are more complex areas), feel free to tip up to $15 a person. However, there's no need to tip for a standard mulch drop done in your driveway or on a tarp.