Mulch Facts & Frequently Asked Questions

Mulch Facts
& FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions)

Don't say mulch! The word "mulch" is actually a generic term that refers to any item used to inhibit weed growth and maintain moisture around the roots of plants. Many people have gotten into the habit of referring to "shredded cypress mulch" simply as "mulch. It's important when ordering mulch to be specific (i.e. shredded cypress or cypress mulch, rustic pine bark, mini nuggets, designer red mulch, etc.)

How do I know how much mulch I need? In order to get a good idea of exactly how much mulch you need for your landscaping you first must measure the dimensions of each individual bed and multiply the length of each bed by its width to calculate the square footage of the area. The standard approximation used in the industry is that you will need 1 cubic yard of your choice of mulch for every 100 square feet of bedding to be covered. This calculation assumes that you are going to apply the mulch at the recommended minimum depth of three inches. We have provided an automatic cubic yardage calculator for your use. Simply click on the following link to go to the BFP QuikCubiCalc and follow the instructions.

Why should I mulch? Many homeowners think of mulch as strictly cosmetic, just something to make the place look good. And its true that mulch around the base of trees and shrubs does improve property appearance. But there's an awful lot more that mulch contributes to your landscape by making maintenance a much easier, and providing other benefits that are underground and out of sight.

What does mulch do beside improve appearances? Mulch provides a variety of benefits besides making your property more appealing. Some of the main ones are discussed below:

Retaining Moisture & Inhibiting Weed Growth. Mulched soil retains moisture much better around your trees than bare soil can. This means watering less (a major concern as our water supply becomes depleted) and reducing the chance of water stress on the trees. Mulch also cuts down soil erosion or wash-out around trees, it keeps weeds down, reduces soil compaction, and can even improve soil structure as the mulch breaks down. Mulched barriers around trees also keep mowers and trimmers from causing mechanical damage to the trees.

Managing Soil Temperatures For Better Tree Growth. Tree roots are sensitive to the high Florida daytime temperatures. When the surface soil reaches 100 to 108 degrees or more (which it easily can many days of the spring, summer or fall), most tree roots begin to die. Temperatures that high simply kill the roots. Unfortunately, this happens in the upper area of the soil (the top 5" to 6"), which is usually the most fertile. A layer of 3" of mulch can reduce soil temperatures by as much as 10 degrees, maintaining a healthy growth environment for the roots, and letting them grow actively in the upper soil.

Many Materials Available As Mulch. Mulches are either organic or inorganic. Organic choices include: bark chips and shredded bark (of which there are many kinds commercially available); wood shavings; sawdust; peat moss; cocoa hulls (a great smelling choice if you like chocolate!); straw or pine straw; rice hulls or crushed corn cobs; and yard waste like leaves, grass and twigs. Those in the yard waste group are not widely used because they don't usually improve property appearance as much as the commercially produced mulches. Inorganic mulches include gravel (or crushed rock), a variety of sheet materials (like plastic), and several types of shredded rubber or tires. Of the commercially produced mulches, costs and availability vary greatly depending on the area of the country, but overall, the cypress, pine, and hardwood products are the most common and economical here in Florida.

A Couple Of Quick Pointers On Mulching

You should keep mulch from piling up around the trunk. Don't simply keep adding to the top of the pile each year, as this can cause rot, disease, and insect problems at the base. Apply mulch 3" to 5" deep after removing grass and weeds and cultivating the soil.

Mulch reduces soil temperature as much as 10 degrees -- enough to make a difference between supporting or killing tiny feeder roots near the surface. Mulch applied around your trees each year reduces water stress, weeds and damage to trees. Many materials work well as mulch, with wood products being the most common.

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