Mulch 101

​We're noticing a disturbing trend in our area. Home owners are being grossly overcharged for improperly installed mulch and the results are much costlier than you'd imagine.

This issue came to our attention early last summer prompting me to begin this blog post. I've struggled with the decision to publish it ever since. Although I feel it's important home owners are made aware of this problem, I've been hesitant to call out a competitor on their work and their actions. (That's not the Pillywiggin way!) Unfortunately, we're seeing this problem continue into the 2019 landscaping season. 

​In effort to inform & protect our readers, here is your warning: If you use mulch in your landscaping, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED, please read this post & immediately check your beds!

Mulch 101​ - Don't Be Fooled, Get Schooled!

Spring 2018. Our phones were ringing off the hook with new customers seeking Spring Clean-Up Services. We met with potential clients, walking properties from Elk Rapids to Charlevoix. A surprising number were defecting from another landscaping service. We never ask. Most people just volunteer that information, especially if they're unhappy with their previous service.

​Each site presented its own unique challenges but it didn't take long to notice the one common thread linking them all to a single culprit. Improperly installed mulch. Every inch of it "professionally installed" by the same landscape company, one of the largest in our area. 
​
Lake Michigan, Atwood:

• Problem: Rotting lattice & wood trims on home owner's deck.
• Cause: Excessive mulch. ​Beds contained up to 8" of mulch in most areas including areas surrounding customer's deck. Wet mulch piled against lattice & trims on decking caused wooden lattice & trims to rot.
• Solution: Remove mulch touching lattice & trims. Remove excess mulch from all beds. Top dress with a very thin layer of fresh mulch to restore appearance.
• Preventable Cost: Owner must replace lattice & trims.

Torch Lake, Kewadin:

• Problem: Pondless stream water feature over-flowing causing pump to run continuously, improperly discharging water. Rotted cedar shake siding around perimeter of home.
• Cause: Excessive mulch placed too close to water feature & home/siding.
• Solution: Remove mulch clogging water feature filters & pump. Repair washout areas around water feature to prevent mulch from reentering stream. Remove excessive mulch surrounding home, removing all mulch touching exposed wood & trims.
• Preventable Cost: Wasted electricity due to constant running of water feature pump. Owner must replace the entire bottom row of cedar shake siding on home. Small consolation, at least the pump on the water feature didn't burn out.​ It certainly could have.

Why would a landscape company consistently over mulch a site? 

• Inexperienced installers lacking proper training.
• Laziness aka "The Ol' Dump & Run." 
• Apathy - Here's a trade secret sure to disappoint. The landscape industry has an extremely high employee turnover rate. Most positions are open to unskilled laborers, mostly seasonal employment requiring back-breaking labor in exchange for no benefits, no paid vacations, & a pay scale barely above minimum wage.
• Greed - The more you sell the more you money make! Pay close attention to installers that are also retailers of mulch. They have the most to gain.

​Round Lake, Charlevoix:
We quoted 8 yards of mulch. The home owner was certain we had made a mistake. When Jason arrived on site the owner handed him a copy of XYZ's invoice from the previous year - 14 yards of mulch delivered & installed. Every year! Given the size & layout of the property there was absolutely no room to place that much mulch without leaving piles scattered about, but the home owner was certain. He was onsite when the work took place. The mulch was delivered in (1) truck load & spread the same day. He noted there was still mulch onboard the truck when they left.

Did you catch the problem here? Don't feel bad if you missed it. The home owner missed it too, several years in a row. This home owner was overcharged for mulch by 4+ yards each year. How do we know? Because XYZ's largest dump truck holds 10 cubic yards! Of course, most customers would not know this. Even if they did, not all home owners are on site when the work takes place. It's not easy to determine how much mulch was actually spread once it's down. Understanding weights & measures is the first step toward safeguarding yourself from accidental or intentional overcharges on deliveries.

Know Your Weights & Measures!

• Most bagged mulch contains 2 cubic feet of mulch.
• Bulk mulch is sold by the cubic yard.
• 1 cubic yard of mulch = 27 cubic feet or 13.5 bags.
• 1 yard of mulch will typically cover 100 square feet.
• Guess Your Weight? As a rule of thumb, 1 cubic yard of mulch weighs about 1/2 ton or 1,000 lbs. However, when you're hauling mulch it's important to note weight can vary significantly depending on moisture content .

Typical Delivery Size

• Wheelbarrow - 2 cubic feet
• Pick-up trucks & small trailers - 1 to 1.5 cubic yards
• Small dump trucks - Up to 5 cubic yards
• Large dump trucks - Up to 10 cubic yards 
• Semi trucks w/ full sized dump trailers - 30 cubic yards
• There are large dump trucks (rated to 42,000 lbs) that can safely haul up to 14 cubic yards but they usually belong to the excavators.

Prep Work Is Key To Proper Installation!

Taking the time to properly prepare you beds can make a HUGE difference in their overall health & appearance!

Remove Debris

• It's ok to mulch over organic materials such as leaves as they will breakdown & add nutrients to the soil. Large items like branches & twigs should be removed.
• Remove all foreign debris such as plastic plant tags, etc.
• It seems obvious but we see professional installers mulching over items that should have been removed all the time. 

Prepare The Soil

• ​Make any necessary soil amendments before you begin mulching.
• Install landscape fabric to reduce weeds, if desired.

​Edge Those Beds!

• Edging provides a clean, well-defined boundary for your beds and provides a professionally installed appearance to your landscaping.
• Edge beds before applying mulch.
• We prefer the natural edge (trench method) over plastic edging.
• Use a shovel to cut through encroaching grass to create a small trench all around the perimeter of the bed. The trench will keep the mulch contained inside the borders of your bed.
• ​Take your time to ensure all edges are straight, even & consistent. 

PROPER EDGING

• Follows the contours of your bed.
• Curves are smooth & consistent.
• Lines are straight & intentional.
• Edges look neat & clean.

IMPROPER EDGING

• ​Crooked, wonky edges are extremely noticeable. Long beds look the worst.
• Mulch is piled along the edges of this bed without any trench to catch the spillover. This edge will wander even more with every rainfall.
• Beds with professionally installed mulch should never  have a wonky edge!

Proper Application

When applying mulch to an area for the 1st time:

• Spread mulch no more than 3" thick. It will settle over time to the desired thickness of approx. 2" thick.

​When reapplying mulch to previously mulched areas:

• Check the thickness.
• If your mulch is 1" thick add another inch.
• If your mulch is 2" thick only a thin top dressing of mulch is needed to restore the appearance. 
• If your mulch is 3" thick or deeper remove excess mulch from the bed.

Mulching around structures:

• Building code requires an 8" clearance between the ground & siding materials.
• Do not allow mulch to touch siding, decks or trims.
• Be sure the area is well-drained. If it's not, seek professional advice to correct drainage issues. Soggy mulch will only add to your problems.

Rotted cedar shake caused by excessive mulch allowed to touch home.

Please, NO Mulch Volcanoes!

• Over mulching around trees can damage or kill them.
• Young saplings & old trees are both susceptible to damage from over mulching.
• Use care when mulching. Keep mulch away from the tree's bark & out of shrubs & bushes.​ 
• Never pile mulch around a tree's trunk.

WANT HEALTHY TREES? NO MULCH VOLCANOES PLEASE!

Finishing Touches:

• Good housekeepers vacuum their way out of rooms leaving only a perfect pattern behind. Good landscapers should do the same!
• Professionally installed mulch, when complete, should never show footprints or wheelbarrow tracks.
• Mulch your way OUT of beds, not into them. 

Mulch Options

Now that you know how to properly install mulch, which type of mulch should you choose? Well, that depends a lot on your site conditions & personal preference. We've listed the most popular options below & shared our thoughts on each.

Pine Bark aka Red Pine Mulch
Best for naturalizing disturbed areas. Breaks down into soil faster than hardwood.

Hardwood Mulch
Darkens with age. Breaks down into soil slower than pine bark & black-gold.

Black-Gold Mulch
Aged hardwood. Natural color adds interest to landscapes.
Good for naturalizing. Breaks down slower than pine but faster than hardwood.

Cedar Mulch
The slowest to break down. Starts out golden in color, fades to light tan.
Smells great! Good for high wind areas.

Stone Mulch

• Available in a wide range of sizes & colors.
• Stays put. No break down.
• Good for drainage issues but doesn't hold moisture well.
• Rocks absorb heat & can increase soil temps. (This can be good or bad.)
• Harder to add plants once stones are down.

There are many other mulch options available. However, we don't recommend using most of them.

Cypress Mulch

• Made from wood from bald cypress & pond cypress trees. (Not a local product.)
• Available in chips or shreds. Shredded cypress stays put better & breaks down easier.
• Neutral pH, does not change soil pH.
• Pleasant smell.
• Deters insects & weeds.
• Ages to gray color.

Pine Nuggets

• Available in sizes ranging from mini to jumbo.
• Long lasting, improves soil as it breaks down.
• Not suited for wet areas, areas with water pooling or areas that experience heavy rains. Nuggets float & will wash away requiring more maintenance.

Pine Needle aka Pine Straw Mulch

• Light & easy to spread.
• Doesn't compact much/won't mat as it decays. 
• Not recommended for windy areas.
• Multiple layers needed to prevent weeds.
• Lowers pH of soil, can make soil too acidic for some plantings.

Cocoa Mulch

• Made from the hulls of roasted cocoa beans.  
• Often used in hoop & greenhouses because of its delicious chocolatey smell.
• Adds nutrients to the soil.
• Molds easily in hot, humid conditions (like greenhouses) or if kept too wet.
• Potentially toxic to pets. Contains varying levels of caffeine & theobromine, the same chemicals found in chocolate that are known to be toxic to dogs.

Chocolate...YES!
​Cocoa Mulch NO!!

​Dyed Mulch

• Red mulch is dyed with iron oxide, better known to most of us as rust.
• Black mulch is dyed with carbon. (Think charcoal.)
• Others use vegetable based dyes. Vegetable based dyes are generally accepted as safe & commonly referred to as all-natural or organic dyes.
• Stains hands & clothing.
• Considered safe to use however, consumers are advised to wear gloves when handling dyed mulch AND it is recommended pets be kept away from areas containing dyed mulch.
• Supposedly, potential hazards are due to the wood used to make the mulch, not the substances used to dye it. (Recycled wood may contain treated lumber.)

​Rubber Mulch

• Made from shredded recycled tires.
• Advertised by manufacturers as safe for plants & pets.
• More expensive than natural mulch.
• Rubber tree rings are less effective than natural mulch & may damage trees.
• Advertised by manufacturers as safe for plants & pets however, as rubber degrades it leaches toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

Concerned about the safety of your mulch?
Look for the MSC Certification logo wherever you purchase mulch.

MSC (Mulch & Soil Council) Certification labels indicate which mulch & soil products are free from CCA treated wood.​