As the fall season approaches, it's the perfect time to consider enhancing your home's appearance with mulch installation. In addition to its aesthetic benefits, mulch offers various advantages, such as improved drainage, water retention, and moderate weed prevention for your natural areas.

Before diving into your mulch project, here are some key factors to keep in mind:

🍂 Color Matters: The choice of mulch color is crucial. While all mulch fades over time, dyed mulch can lose its vibrancy faster, especially in heavy rain and blazing sunlight. Explore color options and note that darker stained mulch might leave marks on vinyl surfaces if not carefully installed.

🍂 Quality Counts: The type of mulch you choose can impact the project's outcome. Quality matters, from double-hammered hardwood to cypress, shredded pine, and larger chipped mulch. Thicker wood chunks decompose slowly, while lighter woods are more susceptible to wind disruption. Consider your property's needs.

🍂 Consider Fabric: Some companies may suggest installing landscaping fabric beneath mulch as a weed barrier. While it can be useful for beds prone to heavy weed growth, it’s not always necessary. For mulched beds, fabric might make weeding more difficult and can prevent the natural breakdown of mulch from enriching the soil. Instead, opt for a 3 to 4-inch mulch layer for effective weed prevention and healthier soil.

🍂 Existing Mulch: If you already have decomposing mulch, there's no need to remove it before adding fresh mulch. The existing layer will continue working beneath the new layer, fertilizing your natural areas. Removing old mulch will increase costs with little benefit unless you are changing your mulch style, i.e., pine bark to shredded mulch.

Here are some links on where to buy mulch - look for sales throughout October and November in the Florida area.  We recommend our local Big Earth Landscape Supply, spend your mulch dollars locally and give back to your community: https://bigearthsupply.com/product-category/mulch/

Mulch brings vibrancy and functionality to your home. Keep these aspects in mind as you embark on your project. If you have questions, we're here to help. We're passionate about our mulch, and we're committed to making your home's exterior shine!

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