Mulch

[SDSorority]

Hi everyone. When you mulch around your house, do you put down newspaper first? I heard that this will help deter weeds??? Where do you normally get your mulch from? Are bags easier than just a big mulch dump in the driveway? I haven't mulched before and our front area REALLY needs it.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I have tried newspaper & it does help somewhat. It blocks the weed seeds that are in the ground from sprouting. It won't stop all weeds, as seeds will fall into the mulch & grow in there, but their roots wont be deep so they are easier to pull.

I usually get 3-4 yards of mulch delivered from one of the local nurseries or farms. If you lay the newspaper, your mulch has to be pretty think to cover it completely.

Do you have a lawn service? If so you can ask them for a quote on mulch & find out how much you need to mulch the areas. Once you know how much mulch you can make a decision as to bags or a truckload.

 

[kldmom2000]

We usually get it delivered by truck-they measure it by "yards".... I usually get 2.5-3 yards of mulch. The delivery fee is usually about $35 here. I don't put newspapers down because we put a thick layer of mulch down (about 3") which deters weeds. We also go for the better mulch-(the hemlock). It's more expensive, but I've noticed far fewer bugs than when we used the pine bark mulch??

 

[Debbie7452]

I tested out the newspaper theory last spring by doing it in one area and not in the others. It did work, but the PP is correct that you can't skimp on the mulch to make sure it stays covered. I have had mulch delivered and bought it in bags. Surprisingly, it was about the same price and I found the bags to be easier to carry around and apply vs. shoveling it into the wheelbarrow. I used the Naturescapes colored brown mulch last year and it really held its color as advertised. I don't like it when the mulch turns gray. I missed the Lowe's sale on it and I'm searching for a deal now myself!

 

[mollybug2]

Two summers ago when I created new garden beds I put down cardboard - we had loads of moving boxes left and no one wanted them, so I put them down first. I did need a good amount of mulch, but I didn't have any issues with weeds and by the following summer the cardboard had decomposed.

 

[brekin67]

We get our mulch from the Sertoma workshop for people with developmental disabilities. It is $3 for a very large bag. They get the wood from Lowes and Home Depot then break it down in their workshop.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Our local Boy Scout troop sells mulch (part of our church). It may be a little bit more, but they deliver the bags and stack them on the side of our house. Worth every penny. I have also heard of some school sports teams selling mulch to make money. Perhaps you can check out some churches or schools?The problem with a mulch dump is moving it and cleaning up after. I much prefer bags.

 

[Kathi OD]

Since we need between 15 and 20 yards of mulch, we have it delivered and then move it around ourselves. While it is more work than the bags, the cost, even after paying a delivery fee, is much less. Last year we put filter fabric down in some areas before laying the mulch. Filter fabric is dark gray/black in color and it allows water to pass through into the soil, but keeps weeds from sprouting through. It lasts for quite a few years. It worked beautifully and this year we'll add a few more areas.

 

[mrsklamc]

If you ever need just a small quantity, ask at Lowe's to see if they have a damaged bag area. You can usually get it half off or better.

 

[Vijoge]

I do put down newspaper, followed by a thick layer of double shredded oak that we purchase by the yard from a local nursery. This mulch composts really well.

 

[Gillennj]

I started using newspaper last year and I loved it. I used to use the weed fabric, but weeds usually just ended up growing trough it, or worse, under it. It was a real pain to get rid of if I wanted to do something different with the bed. I know the NP will break down, but I can ut more out as needed.

We have mulch delivered, and for us, it's much cheaper. We used to use bags, and the nursery we bought the bulk from had MUCH better quality.

 

[Mouseless2Long]

I tested out the newspaper theory last spring by doing it in one area and not in the others. It did work, but the PP is correct that you can't skimp on the mulch to make sure it stays covered. I have had mulch delivered and bought it in bags. Surprisingly, it was about the same price and I found the bags to be easier to carry around and apply vs. shoveling it into the wheelbarrow. I used the Naturescapes colored brown mulch last year and it really held its color as advertised. I don't like it when the mulch turns gray. I missed the Lowe's sale on it and I'm searching for a deal now myself!

Ditto! In fact, last year, I put the Naturescape down behind my house where it's difficult to get a wheelbarrow to put down delivered mulch. I found that by the end of summer last year, the Naturescape had no weeds and definitely maintained its color versus the mulch I had delivered. I will go with the bagged mulch this year. It's much easier to haul to where you need to use it and I think it held up beautifully! Keep in mind, you get what you pay for. Don't use cheap bagged mulch.