Mulch

Mulch is any material spread over soil to retain moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds in your garden beds and landscaping. From organic options like wood chips and bark to decorative stone varieties, the right mulch enhances curb appeal while protecting your plants year-round. Whether you're refreshing existing beds or starting fresh, Angi connects you with local pros and guides to get the job done right.

Related to Mulch Service

Mulch Service Articles and Advice
Tyler Lacoma  •  Jul 10, 2026
The 7 Best Ways To Clean Up Hedge Trimmings
Creating a tidy hedge often leaves you with lots of clippings to deal with. Learn the best way to clean up hedge trimmings with our seven tips.
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Best Types of Mulch for Your Vegetable Garden
The best mulch for vegetable gardens helps with that balance of nutrients while deterring hungry pests. Learn about the best mulches to boost your bounty.
Katy Willis  •  Jul 10, 2026
8 Mulching Tips and Tricks for Your Yard
Get top tips for mulching your yard to help you get healthier plants, longer flowering time, and bigger harvests, whatever you're growing.
Emily Benda Gaylord  •  Jul 9, 2026
How to Get Rid of Leaves Without Raking: 5 Easy Methods
Raking leaves can be such a chore. Learn how to get rid of leaves without raking with these fail-safe methods.
Mitchell Grant  •  Jul 9, 2026
What Is Dog Vomit Slime Mold?
Does your yard have slimy patches of something resembling dog vomit? Use this guide to understand what is dog vomit slime mold, and how you treat it.
Melissa Graham  •  Jul 9, 2026
How to Get Leaves Out of Mulch in 4 Simple Steps
Learn how to get leaves out of mulch with minimal mess or equipment in this simple guide. All it takes is a little sweat equity and a few tools and supplies.
Rachel Presser  •  Jul 9, 2026
How to Mulch Leaves With a Mower to Save Time and Money
Autumn leaves piling up on your lawn doesn’t have to mean losing your weekends to back-breaking yard work. Learn how to mulch leaves with a mower.
Mizuki Hisaka  •  Jul 9, 2026
Who to Hire for Mulch Projects
Knowing who to hire for mulch installation can seem tricky at first. Read this guide to figure out which companies are your best options for a mulching project.
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Common Mulch Service Questions

Colored mulch can be bad for plants in that it robs them of nitrogen as it depletes the soil to break itself down. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to test your soil to check the nitrogen levels. If the nitrogen levels are low, use fertilizer with extra nitrogen or switch to regular mulch.

Another downside of colored mulch is if it’s heavily contaminated, it can contaminate the soil and damage your plants. To avoid this, look for the MSC certification logo on the mulch bag before purchasing.

Weeds can grow through rubber mulch, but it depends on if you removed all the weeds in your garden beforehand. Weeds already in the soil can grow even when using rubber mulch. However, that doesn’t mean that your garden will be littered with rubber and weeds, but it does mean that the occasional weed might still pop up. Another way you can increase your weed suppression is by using landscape fabric as a second layer. 

Rubber mulch doesn’t attract mice. Unlike organic mulches, which can serve as food and nesting material for mice, rubber mulch has no nutritional value or comfortable nesting spots, making it less appealing to rodents.

You should add 1 to 4 inches of mulch, depending on your garden type and needs. Keep in mind that no amount of mulch can completely prevent weeds, but a heavier coverage (closer to 4 inches) can suppress weeds enough that you are only seeing them sprout every few weeks. Finer mulch prevents weeds more effectively than large mulch, so if you’re using mulched leaves or shredded bark, 1 to 2 inches will likely suffice, while 3 to 4 inches is best for larger mulch, like bark chips or straw.

When you purchase mulch for delivery, it’s usually by the cubic yard, so you’ll want to convert your space to cubic yards to get the right amount. First, determine the square footage of the area you want to cover, and then determine how deep the bed of mulch will be—a good rule of thumb is around three inches. Multiply your square footage in feet by the depth in inches and divide by 324. You may want to add a ½ to one additional cubic yard to ensure you have enough.