How do you prepare the ground for planting a tree?

• <div><p>First, dig a hole that’s the same depth as the root ball and wide enough for the roots to spread out fully. Before placing the tree in the hole, pour water in to help get rid of any air pockets in the soil.</p><p>When filling the hole back in, opt for a 1:1 ratio of organic compost with the soil left over from the ground. Do not use potting soil, fertilizer, or chemicals of any kind, as these can stress out and kill your newly planted tree.</p></div>

What goes down first, topsoil or mulch?

• <div><p>Topsoil should go down first. If the topsoil is next to your house, make sure the grade slopes away from the house to keep water from pooling against your foundation and possibly leaking into your basement or crawl space. Don’t cover your decorative landscape mulch with topsoil as that defeats the purpose of laying down the mulch. If you’re trying to create a certain <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-can-you-improve-plant-growth-start-improving-your-soil.htm">soil composition to improve plant growth</a>, you’ll likely want compost mixed into the topsoil instead of mulch. Over time, any decorative wood mulch will simply decompose under the topsoil. </p></div>

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Q: Can I fill potholes in my driveway with mulch?

• <div><p>Mulch is best used in garden beds and yards, not in your driveway as pothole filler. It is meant to stimulate plant growth. Upon repeated pressure, it turns into compost, which also serves as fertilizer for weeds to take over. The roots will then break into your driveway, leading to more material loss and structural collapses. </p></div>

Q: What costs are generally involved in lakefront landscaping?

• <div><p>Costs for lakefront landscaping are influenced by project size, choice of plants and materials, labor, and any additional features or structures desired. Projects can range from a few thousand dollars to extensive transformations costing much more.</p></div>

Q: How do you prepare the ground for planting a tree?

• <div><p>First, dig a hole that&rsquo;s the same depth as the root ball and wide enough for the roots to spread out fully. Before placing the tree in the hole, pour water in to help get rid of any air pockets in the soil.</p><p>When filling the hole back in, opt for a 1:1 ratio of organic compost with the soil left over from the ground. Do not use potting soil, fertilizer, or chemicals of any kind, as these can stress out and kill your newly planted tree.</p></div>

Q: What are the cons of forestry mulching?

• <div><p>Some drawbacks of forestry mulching include leaving behind a thick mulch layer, not being suitable for extremely rocky areas, creating conditions that attract pests, and not being able to fully remove large trees and stumps. You may need to pay extra to have larger trees felled and stumps ground in order to fully clear your land.</p></div>

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Last update on October 27, 2025

Reviewed in January 2024
We had Mr. Appleton come by and do lawn mowing and edging once a week and also had him control the weeds around the house. He was very kind and made sure he explained everything to us and made sure to get the job done right. His speed was respectable especially since he did such a great job on...
Appleton Landscape
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Reviewed in June 2022
We used Vincent’s Lawn Maintenance & Landscape Contractor for our landscaping/mulch beds & they did a GREAT job!
Neri, Inc.
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Reviewed in October 2016
Cathy listened to our wish list and created a design that was awesome. She was readily available throughout the project. The entire team worked in extreme heat and humidity to get the job done on time. They were very, very polite and professional. They left the area clean each day. We even...
HOOKS LANDSCAPING LLC
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Reviewed in March 2016
Needed gravel and mulch for our business. Marc was knowledgeable, and professional. Workers were courteous and competed the job in a timely manner.
Anderson & Sons, Ltd.
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Reviewed in August 2013
Excellent! Arun spent time talking with my wife on what she wanted. He listened to her, offered suggestions and did the plan just as she wanted. Some landscapers don't seem to work well with women, but no problem here! We also asked them to find drain tiles that was connected to our roof...
Rent A Gardener Inc
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Reviewed in May 2013
We were over-billed (and accidentally over-paid) for the snow plowing this past winter. I talked with Gary a few times about coming out to work on the lawn again this year and to get the snow plow overpayment fixed. He agreed to look into it and to call back several times - which he never did....
G & G Lawn Care Inc
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R and D lawn care

R and D lawn care

Lutz Landscaping

Lutz Landscaping

Maulfair trucking llc

Maulfair trucking llc

TruGreen Lawn Care - 5747

TruGreen Lawn Care - 5747

Danchris Nursery

Danchris Nursery

RM3's Services

RM3's Services

Salazar and Sons Lawn Care and Snow Removal

Salazar and Sons Lawn Care and Snow Removal

Dr. Green's Lawn Pros.

Dr. Green's Lawn Pros.

Stone Timber Brush

Stone Timber Brush

Caleb's Contracting

Caleb's Contracting

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