Get matched with top mulch and topsoil pros in Summit, MS

Pea gravel is hands down a top pick for managing landscape drainage.  These small stones allow water to flow through easily by creating natural gaps that promote runoff. Beyond functionality, pea gravel also offers visual versatility. Homeowners will find a range of earthy tones like gray, brown, blue, and even red, making it easy to match with different outdoor styles and plantings.

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 soil composition to improve plant growth, you’ll likely want compost mixed into the topsoil instead of mulch. Over time, any decorative wood mulch will simply decompose under the topsoil.

Generally, you want the soil for your edible plants to have good drainage, organic matter for nutrients, a loose texture (like loam soil), and a balanced pH level. However, the type of plants you're growing will dictate the exact characteristics your soil needs to thrive. For example, brussels sprout prefers more acidic soil, while broccoli prefers more alkaline soil. 

Wood from black walnut, magnolia, eucalyptus, red maple, and invasive species like tree of heaven are not recommended for mulching. These trees release allelochemicals that can suppress plant growth. Some homeowners, however, use wood from these trees for mulching if it is less potent due to age or concentration, or if the plants are not as sensitive to them.