Get matched with top mulch and topsoil pros in White Deer, TX

Yes, you need to use landscape fabric under your rubber mulch. Rubber mulch doesn’t decompose, so putting landscape fabric down can work as a barrier between your mulch and soil, preventing your mulch from mixing with your soil and leaching chemicals like aluminum, cadmium, and copper into it. Also, since weeds can occasionally get through rubber mulch, using landscape fabric as a second form of protection can increase its effectiveness. 

Topsoil provides plants with essential nutrients, water, and air for healthy root growth. It offers a rich ecosystem of microorganisms that improve soil quality and structure. For existing lawns, ¼ inch of topdressing can enhance root growth and support new seed. For gardens, two inches of topsoil can promote strong growth and crops.

How tall your mulch should be around your tree depends on the type of mulch you use, but aim for 3 to 4 inches as a rule of thumb. You’ll want to avoid simply piling it up in hopes of offering additional benefits to your tree. Volcano mulching is the infamous term for piling way too much mulch against the stem of your tree. This could actually kill your tree or severely harm it, as your tree trunk needs space to breathe without too much moisture.

The best soil to put around a house foundation is fill dirt, which is soil that’s specifically designed for covering large areas and filling in holes. Don’t waste money regrading around your foundation with expensive topsoil. Use topsoil only for the last layer of soil, about 5 to 10 inches, so that when you do your foundation planting, your grass and plants will have the nutrients they need to grow.