Don’t Use Weed Barrier Under Mulch

Do not use weed barrier under mulch.

Only use weed barrier under gravels and decorative stone.

Mulches decompose and add welcome nutrients to the soil. If you put a weed barrier down first then the composting of the mulch cannot mediate into the soil.

Spring Chores and Mulch

Get ready for planting season.

Soon the weather will break and that’s when you want to inspect your plantings for winter damage. During the visual inspection look closly at the plant’s stems / branches you will see the damage cuased by freezing, this will have a diferent color than the healthy stems. Using your pruners clip the damaged stem approximately 1/2 inch below the damaged stem. If you are not sure how much to prune off it is always better to be conservative on what / how much to prune, remember to always be mindful of the plant’s shape. Prune any damage you may find including damage from rabbits or mice.

Fertilize all your plants with a good balanced fertilizer. One of the best fertilizers you can buy is “osmacote”.

Prepare the beds for new mulch or by “tilling” up your existing mulch using a garden hook. You don’t have to add new mulch every year, if you do add mulch make sure the depth of the mulch does not exceed 4″. Too much mulch can be very damaging to your landscape.

Excess mulch can suffocate your plants and also create a hard pan — not allowing water to flow through the mulch to plants. Mulch is added to the beds to give plants a moisture retention and warm the soil. Good quality mulch can also add nutrients to the soil as it decomposes. I prefer to use Pine Bark mulch. I like this mulch for the rich color and more consistent size. It also adds some acidity to the soil.

Pine bark mulch costs around $40.00 per cubic yard. 

My second choice of mulch is shredded hardwood bark mulch. The only thing I have found with this mulch is it can become hard packed more easily then Pine Bark mulch. Hardwood mulch costs around $35.00 per cubic yard.

These mulches should be easily found at the local landscape supplier. One cubic yard of mulch will cover approximately 150 – 200 square feet @ 2 1/2 – 3″ thick.

You should expect to pay $35.00 – $45.00 per cubic yard to have it installed by a landscape professional.