This is one of our best sellers, it is the byproduct or horse farm bedding that is left to decompose, then screened. It is very fine and dark when it is wet, fades to a dark brown color over the course of the year. While working with it it smells a little pungent but there is no noticeable scent when it is installed. This mulch can also be used to mix into soil to improve it. We notice that the flowerbeds we maintain that have this mulch generally have perennials that hold their flower later in the year.
1-yard of mulch covers 300 sq/ft at 1” thick
Mulch Facts
Why?
There are different reasons to use different mulches and pros and cons of putting it on thick and thin.
Generally for a newly established flowerbed it is a common practice to put on a thick initial layer of natural mulch (4-5”). This mulch will break down quick, heat up and form a “crust” in the middle creating thermal protection for plants against freeze-thaw cycles, weed barrier, and nutrients for the plants as it breaks down further. In following years it is recommended to mulch with 1-2” of the mulch of your choice.
Don’ts:
Hot Mulch (common for natural hardwood or manure mulches that have been sitting) you must use caution as it will burn plant leaves and grass.
Be sure to thin the mulch out around the base of trees and plants. They need exposure to air around the base.
Fun fact: We mulched a hydro pole and tree beside each other adding 1” of mulch every year for 3 years. The mulch around the base of the tree decomposed and disappeared every year keeping the mulch area level with the ground, the mulch around the hydro pole didn’t seem to break down or disappear, the mulched area got higher every year.
