If you’re thinking about updating your landscaping in Orange, Lake, Osceola, or Seminole County, mulch is essential. With so many on the market today, it is important to understand which mulch is right for your project.
Whether it is pine bark, chocolate mulch, cypress mulch, red mulch or rocks you are looking for to update your landscaping, Reliable Peat has quality products at an affordable price. Save even more with our special Fall discount, 10% off all bulk orders over 6 yards, for both our Winter Garden and Lake county locations!
The National Bark & Soil Producers Association explains the difference between wood and bark mulch
Any mulch with “bark” in the name must be at least 85 percent bark of that named tree. A “mulch” material, on the other hand, need be only 70 percent of the named material, and it may be either bark or wood. In both cases, the remaining 15 or 30 percent can be just about anything, but it is usually wood.
The primary difference is how long the mulch will last before breaking down. “Wood breaks down quicker and is more susceptible to insect damage and discoloring than bark,” explains Bob LaGasse, executive director of the NBSPA.
The National Gardening Association suggests using 3 to 4 inches of mulch each season. Around soft stemmed perennials and annuals use a 2 to 3 inch layer. Though a bark mulch can give a vegetable garden a revised look, but fine particle mulch decomposes faster and adds nutrients to the soil.
Areas prone to flooding, slopes, and pathways can benefit from stones or a larger bark mulch. They don’t wash away as easily as shredded mulch and won’t have to be applied as often.
How much mulch will you need?
For a 100 square foot area
for mulch 4 inches deep, you will need around 34 cubic feet,
for mulch 3 inches deep will need 25 cubic feet
for mulch 2 inches deep will need 17 cubic feet.
1 cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, that’s about how much fits into the bed of a small pick up truck.
The mulch calculator from The National Garden Association is a great to determine how much soil you will need.
If you have any questions, please contact Reliable Peat. Our professionals are here to help with all your landscaping needs.
