Best mulch and topsoil pros near Grayson, LA

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.

Depending on the size of the river rock and the density of your soil, add woven landscape fabric or sand under river rock. The extra layer will ensure your river rock sits evenly and doesn't create puddles or uneven areas throughout the design. In some cases, nothing is necessary beneath river rock, but be sure to speak with a landscaper to keep your landscaping looking sharp.

No one likes running out of materials during a project, so calculating the right amount of gravel needed for your driveway is an absolute must. Multiply your driveway’s length by width by the depth of the gravel (in feet). For gravel depth, convert to a decimal (i.e., 4 inches is 0.33 feet). This will give you the cubic feet of material that you need. 

If you’re looking for cubic yards, divide that above number by 27.

It is generally not recommended to put topsoil over new grass seed. A thick layer can suffocate the seedlings by preventing sunlight, water, and oxygen from reaching them. The seeds only need about a quarter-inch of soil for protection. If you want to protect the seeds, a better alternative is to apply a thin layer of organic matter, such as straw mulch or hay.