We can sell the finest mulch at the lowest prices because we control the entire supply chain of the product. Wood chips are a by-product of tree trimming and removal. We are the suppliers of the raw material and the manufacturer of the finished product. The end result is savings passed on to you--the customer.
As helpful as mulch is, deeper is not better. A layer of 3 - 4 inches is best. Mulch is great for the roots but not as beneficial for the bark. Keep the mulch away from the bark of the tree as it causes fungus. Applied in the proper amount, you maintain soil moisture over the roots. The right depth will reduce germination of greenery that you don't want spreading around trees. Mulch serves as nature's insulation, keeping soil warmer in winter and cooler in hot weather. Also, be sure to not create mulch volcanoes. That is the description arborists use to describe a mountain of mulch piled up against the bark of the tree trunk. This suffocates the roots and creates a good environment for tree borers.
Termites are not strongly attracted to chips, but you may find them in your mulch after a couple of years. Termites actually help the process of converting mulch to humus. You just do not want them in your home. Pull the chips back twelve inches from the foundation and keep the pests at bay.
First walk off the landscape beds you wish to cover with mulch. (Most people's large steps cover 3 feet.) Decide how deep you wish to make the mulch. Most arborists advise never going above 4 inches in depth. Plug in the dimensions in feet and the depth of mulch desired in inches into the mulch calculator on this web site. It will compute how much mulch to order. Note that it also calculates the equivalent number of 2 cubic foot bags to purchase, so you can compare the costs of bagged mulch vs. bulk.
A cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet. Typically, the $3.00 bag of mulch purchased contains 2 cubic feet. Therefore, that bag costs $40.50 per cubic yard. Of course, you have to pay to have bulk mulch delivered. When you factor in the delivery cost, it is usually less expensive to purchase mulch by the bag for smaller quantities.
There are different types of mulch including both organic and inorganic. Most arborists and landscapers prefer organic mulch made from ground up trees. This is the mulch we make and sell. Several local tree services chip up their tree trimmings at the tree trimming job site and then dump the chips on our mulch yard in Norcross. We then regrind them and put them through a screen. The mulch is either sold as 'double ground' natural mulch, or it is dyed using environmentally friendly dye, and sold as brown mulch or black mulch. Although the colored mulch is more expensive, we sell about ten times as much colored mulch as we do the natural mulch.
Mulch is better than pine straw for several reasons. In addition to keeping down weeds and defining an island, mulch also resists erosion, retains moisture, creates humus, naturally aerates the soil and creates mycorrhiza colonies. Look under pine straw that has been down for a year and see what the pine straw has done for the soil – nothing! Now look under mulch which has been down for a year and compare the two. The ground is beginning to resemble the forest floor – this is a much better environment for trees and shrubs. Additionally, it is almost impossible for mulch to catch fire. This is not the case with pine straw! Numerous commercial business owners have had cars burn in parking lots due to fires in pine straw.
There are situations where bagged mulch is easier to handle than bulk. However, you are paying big time for the added convenience. $3.00 for a 2 cubic foot bag of mulch equates to $40.50 per cubic yard. Why would you spend money on the individual bags and the labor to bag and unbag them if you do not have to? Save money and buy in bulk today!
It is normal to see some mold and fungus appear in your mulched islands. Mold and fungus are part of what nature uses to break down the wood fibers into humus. It is harmless (just don't let your children eat it!). When you see it, if it bothers you, just turn over that mulch with a shovel. On rare occasions you may see a type of fungus which you really should turn over. Artillery fungus thrives in shady, moist areas. It looks like hundreds of little circular, white craters on the top surface of the mulch. They will release spores which can stain your house siding or car. The solution is the same as with other fungi; just turnover the affected area or cover it with other mulch.