Spring Mulching
April can seem like mulch mania! Why so much mulch? It looks neat, tidy and appealing. Even better than the look, here’s how mulch helps your plants and soil.
● Improves soil moisture, so plants last longer with less watering.
● Reduces soil erosion and compaction.
● Creates a barrier from the heat and cold, so soil maintains a more consistent temperature. In fact, mulch can help protect shallow-root plants from freezing.
● Cuts down on ugly weeds that can compete with your plants for nutrients.
● Improves soil nutrition as it decomposes!
This may be counterintuitive, but mulching in the Spring should be done before new bulbs start popping up.
Careful, don’t use too much. Two to 3 inches is usually the right amount for most applications. If you pile it on too high, some won’t decompose, which can limit the growth of roots. Then soil becomes compacted and water and nutrients can’t penetrate. How to avoid this problem? Simply remove any old mulch before you add a new layer each year.
One cubic yard of mulch covers a 324-square-foot area an inch deep. To see how much you need, multiply your square footage by depth in inches desired, then divide by 324. Here’s a handy guide.
More mulch is not always better. A depth of two inches works well for many applications because it allows your plants to breathe, while still keeping weeds down.
Every spring there’s a “mulch madness” mentality as people shop the best deals. You’ll see mulch on sales at hardware stores, grocery stores, even convenience stores. Tricky thing is, you can’t just go by price – mulch come in different bag sizes, and the quality varies, too.
CountryMax carries huge 3 cu. ft. bags!
Our customers often have a lot of area to cover, so we offer bigger bags, 30% larger than most. (Don’t worry, we carry them to your car.)
Cedar mulch lasts longer!
Cedar is exceptionally durable through the wet weather we experience in Upstate New York. So it protects your soil and plants for longer than other hard-wood mixes. Our primary mulch product is cedar -- natural, red, black and brown. Best quality, best price!
It’s here – no supply chain worries!
Yes, most mulch comes from Canada. So we ordered early (and ordered plenty), so it’s here for you at garden-friendly prices.
NOTE: while supply lasts
