Common mulch materials are: shredded bark, wood chips (always available free from Almstead Tree Company!), bark nuggets, buckwheat hulls, cocoa shells, well decomposed manure, and mushroom compost. Mulch will benefit your landscape in many ways. Just a few of the most important benefits are: controlling weed growth, trapping moisture (which helps the plant to conserve moisture during dry spells), preventing erosion, balancing soil temperature, and encouraging beneficial insects for soil aeration and enhancement. Over time, mulch will breakdown and return valuable organic resources to the soil.

We recommend no more than 3 to 4 inches around the dripline and never right up against the trunk of any tree or shrub. Keep in mind that peat moss quickly forms a hard crust, which will repel water faster than it can absorb it. Peat Moss should NOT be used as an alternative mulch material. To cover large areas, use layers of old newspapers or cardboard (another low cost alternative). Never use plastic linings, as they will not allow water or air to penetrate the root zone.

Almstead Tree Company sells and delivers bulk mulch and always has plenty of free wood chips on hand. If you have any questions concerning mulching or any other topic concerning your trees, shrubs or landscape feel free to give us a call at any time.

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