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Health & Fitness

Mind Your Mulch

Who knew mulch was so purposeful? If you have specific concerns or questions regarding mulch or particular landscaping topics you would like to see covered, please email Tom at tom@stoutlandscape.com.

Times are tough! Stop throwing away money by putting your green waste in your green trash bins! All that random, yard waste is called mulch, which is beneficial to your planter bed. The average homeowner views mulch as “trash” and does not see the sustainable value in what they are throwing away.

Mulch is shredded organic matter that is spread three inches over the soil. The three inches is crucial because this is the specific point value where the mulch is able to do it’s job and make a difference. When decomposition takes place, the result is healthier plants. Some of the purposes of mulch are to retain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, keep soil cool and make the garden bed more attractive. Simply put, mulch is basically a blanket for your soil. It holds water in, keeps weeds at bay and makes the garden easier to care for in general.

                                       IMPORTANT FACT:

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When all the mulch is composed of wood chips only (without the green leaves mixed in), the decomposition process does not take place to its full extent. It actually enhances the Biology of the soil when more green leaves are present. The optimal ratio that you are looking for is 80% wood to 20% greenery. 

WHERE IN THE WORLD DO YOU BUY MULCH? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

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You can actually get mulch for FREE from local tree trimmers or from sites like www.freegreenexchange.com.  Also, your city will give it away. Why pay for mulch at big box retail stores when you can get it for free. Freegreenexchange is a win-win situation for everyone! They have truckloads of mulch from trees that are being pruned. The driver will also come and dump it at your site so that it can be repurposed in your planter beds. Furthermore, the only plant material delivered is pruned from healthy trees. Tree trimmings make for great mulch material for your garden beds. The mulch is free; the only ask for for a small fee for gas.

A FEW MULCHING TIPS:

  • Choose the right mulch for your landscaping needs: Cypress, pine, hardwood and cedar are the most popular types.
  • Select the areas where you will apply the mulch:  This is important. Carefully evaluate your garden and general landscape. Great places to apply mulch include flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, play areas and planter beds with trees and shrubs.
  • Measure the areas where you will apply mulch: Measure the length and width of the area you intend to mulch. How extensive is the landscaping project you intend to undertake? For every 100 square feet of mulched area, you will need one cubic yard at 3 inches deep.
  • It is cheaper to buy mulch in bulk: Buying mulch in bulk will save you time, energy and plastic bags.

                            Seven Benefits to Using Mulch

  1. Holds moisture
  2. Keeps weeds out
  3. Decomposes and keeps a higher level of microbial activity, which increases the overall level of plant activity
  4. Prevents kids and dogs from tracking mud in house
  5. Prevents compaction
  6. Lowers temperature of soil
  7. Looks good


These landscaping tips on mulch are from Tom Stout of Stout Landscape Design-Build. He is a Landscape Designer in Culver City who strongly employs Responsibility, Sustainability and Organic material into his work. (www.stoutlandscape.com).

Stout’s blog will appear regularly and hopefully inspire you to garden a little more responsibly. There will also be tips and interesting information on getting the kids involved –-- either at home or within their school.

If you have specific concerns or questions regarding mulch or particular landscaping topics you would like to see covered, please email Tom at tom@stoutlandscape.com.

Elisabeth Paige Hebert

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