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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.

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.

A gravel driveway costs from $1.25 to $1.80 per square foot, including materials and installation. Cost factors for this project include the type of gravel, its thickness, and the amount of site preparation required.

Consider these cost estimates for a 20-foot-long driveway:

• 1-car (240 square feet): $300–$432

• 2-car (480 square feet): $600–$864

• 4-car (960 square feet): $1,200–$1,728

Here are gravel driveways costs for a 50-foot-long driveway:

• 1-car (600 square feet): $750–$1,080

• 2-car (1,200 square feet): $1,500–$2,160

• 4-car (2,400 square feet): $3,000–$4,320

If you’re using crushed stone or gravel as a base material, then yes, you should compact it to prevent movement of the top layers. For instance, if you don’t compact crushed stone or gravel and you lay pavers on top of them, the pavers will shift over time. However, if you’re using gravel or crushed stone as a top layer for aesthetic purposes, you might not want to compact the materials.