Bark mulch and stone mulch: each have their purposes

Evaluate the attributes of bark or rock and choose the right mulching alternative for your garden

If you are looking for mulch, you have plenty of resources at your disposal. The mulch you choose for your garden can have a significant impact on the appearance and the cost of landscape maintenance. Bark mulch is commonly used in flowerbeds and garden beds, and to protect ornamental plants. Stone or rock mulch, on the other hand, is predominantly a crushed stone and is popular along walkways, driveways, and around buildings.

Bark Mulch

This is the most common and inexpensive type of mulch, made from shredding the bark of trees. Bark mulch is a product of many different trees, the most common of these being cedar, cypress, pine, oak, and hemlock. Ask Melvin Mulch to explain the differences and benefits between various types of trees. Continue reading →

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Choose the Best Garden Mulch for your Residential Landscape

There are different types of mulch for your garden or landscaping, each with its characteristics and qualities. Mulch helps to improve the quality and drainage of the soil, control growth of weeds, retain soil moisture, regulate the ground temperature, and improve the appearance of your garden. Understanding the qualities of the different types of mulch helps you choose the ideal variety for your garden.

Bark or Wood Mulch

Shredded wood chips are long-lasting mulches that gardeners do not need to replace periodically. Like the other varieties, wood chips reduce the need to weed your garden by allowing air and moisture to penetrate the soil when spread at a depth of less than 6 inches. Continue reading →

Stone mulch pathway in garden

The most common landscaping question many homeowners have is about whether stone mulch or traditional mulch is a better option for landscaping. It really depends on what areas in the yard you want to use mulch or stone, and what your personal preferences are.

Traditional mulch is good to use around trees and in flower beds, while stone mulch is a terrific option for places like around swimming pools, framing a natural or man-made pond, in front of a house, near outdoor cooking areas, around outdoor fireplaces and on pathways.

Benefits of Traditional Wood Mulch and Stone Mulch

Either type of mulch can be used, and both have specific advantages. Traditional mulch requires a bit more upkeep and needs to be replaced or have more mulch added yearly to keep it looking its best. Organic mulch adds crucial nutrients to soil and plants and it creates a healthy atmosphere for growth. Wood mulch is lighter weight and won’t require a barrier fabric underneath. Mulch from wood products helps insulate soil, can keep plants and trees from freezing, lessens the need for weeding and helps to keep the area moist.
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Ready to use your gardening shovel in environmentally-friendly wood mulch?

Landscaping is art, but there is a lot of science to go along with it. You can beautify your lawn in a way that is not only environmentally sound, but also attractive. Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths out there. Some are grounded in facts, but more often they miss the mark. We’re going to set the record straight on a few of the more common myths associated with different types of mulch, including wood mulch. We’ve talked about a few of these myths before, but it’s always good to have as much information as possible:

1. All mulch is pretty much the same

Unfortunately, no, all mulches were not created equal. Some mulches increase and some lower the acidity of the ground. This is a good thing because some plants thrive on more acidity, some on less. It is best to do your research and buy the right mulch that offers what you need. Continue reading →

Mulching, as any gardener should know, is the act of spreading or laying materials over the surface of the soil around plants to act as a protective cover. Mulching helps retain soil moisture, keeps weeds down, and wards off heat and cold. As they decompose, organic mulches such as shredded or chipped bark, grass clippings, composted manure and straw fertilize the soil.

In the fall, after the leaves have fallen from the trees, savvy gardeners will begin to prepare for winter mulching. The amount of mulching material you spread around each plant and the timing is dictated by the climate belt you are in. Severe cold areas require a heavier mulching layer than more moderate areas. If in doubt as to what your plants need and when in the way of mulching for the coming winter, consulate your local mulch distributor or gardening supply store at the end of the summer growing season. Continue reading →

Planting brand new trees in your front or backyard helps your entire property appear more attractive. Tall trees even shade your home during the summer, and this landscaping aspect significantly reduces your air conditioning or energy use. However, you can’t simply plant the trees and neglect their care. It is critical to spread mulch under landscaping trees for several specific reasons.

Understanding Tree Root Systems

People often believe that tree roots are a mirror image of their canopies. In fact, tree roots don’t dive deeply into the ground, but they actually spread horizontally within the first 12 inches of the soil. These roots are constantly searching for moisture and nutrients, and the top soil layer is the best place to find these elements. By adding landscape mulch to the surrounding tree base, these roots are protected by another organic layer. They won’t be damaged by foot traffic or lawnmowers, for example. Continue reading →

Mulch is aesthetically pleasing and practical, but choosing the right one is often challenging since the product comes in many different forms. The difference between the type of mulch most people use in the garden and landscaping mulch is that garden mulch is generally an organic material, while landscaping mulch can be either organic or inorganic.

Types of Mulch

Organic mulch options include shredded bark, wood chips and cocoa shells along with compost, grass clippings and leaves. Inorganic mulch is usually made from stone, plastic or landscaping fabric. In the garden, choose mulch according to the kind of vegetables that you intend to grow. Also, consider our area’s climate. When it comes to your home’s landscaping, buy mulch according to your preferred style, home’s architectural design and plant life. Continue reading →

“To mulch or not to mulch” is a question that many landscapers and homeowners have eliminated from their vocabulary. How? By going another route, the natural stone route.

The pros and cons of using stone, crushed stone, otherwise known as gravel, or natural wood mulch are many. Today, however, a growing number of landscapers and homeowners are opting for stone landscapes depending on the property and individual preferences.

Hint: Before making a choice as to which way to go, we highly recommend that you first research what your options are and consult one of our Melvin Mulch experts.

That being said, let’s look first at the pros of having a stone-based ground covering as opposed to natural, wood mulch. Continue reading →

A quick, efficient way to beautify a lawn while protecting trees and plants is to apply landscape mulch. While it may not be glamorous, mulch provides the foundation for the entire landscaped area’s health. A versatile tool, landscape mulch benefits vegetable gardens, flower beds and trees while beautifying and protecting the entire planted area. Continue reading →

Wood has many uses, and its not just for furniture, baseball bats or even garden mulch. Cooking with wood opens up a whole new world of culinary possibilities. Enjoy!

Cook with Wood to Enhance the Flavor of Food

Since the discovery of fire, wood has been an extremely important fuel. It was used to heat and to cook. Some of the tastiest foods were prepared in wood “cook” stoves for generations. With the advent of natural gas and electric stoves, wood as a fuel for cooking is mainly used for barbecuing and smoking. Still, there’s nothing quite like the aroma of foods prepared over a wood fire. Continue reading →