Get matched with top mulch and topsoil pros in New Martinsville, WV

The number of bags of topsoil you need depends on the depth you’re filling. The average topsoil is sold in a roughly forty-pound bag, covering 12 square feet at a one-inch depth. Since topsoil is by nature the uppermost layer of soil, you can bet on only needing to fill about 4 to 8 inches of soil depth with it.

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.

Mulch can increase the aesthetic and curb appeal of your property, and it provides a ton of benefits for your trees, shrubs, and even your foundation. Here are some of the benefits of installing mulch:

• Protects your trees from weed whacker strikes

• Helps regulate moisture in the soil for better plant and tree health

• Can improve your home’s curb appeal and, therefore, your property value

• Reduces how much runoff soaks into the soil around your foundation, potentially reducing the risk of foundation damage and leaking

While you can put gravel directly on dirt, it won’t be very stable. It also won’t block out any weeds. Most experts recommend layering weed barrier and a layer of packed sand or other foundation material to prevent the gravel from sinking into the earth and being overtaken by weeds.