Landscaping With Pine Straw And Mulch

Mulch and pine straw are essential components of any landscape bed. Not only do they add a decorative touch to your Frankin landscape, but they also provide many practical benefits. Applying mulch and pine straw to your ornamental beds can help to reduce weeds, conserve moisture, and improve the overall health of your plants. Here, we’ll discuss the importance of applying mulch and pine straw to landscape beds and the proper way to apply it.

Too Much Mulch Is Unhealthy

When applying mulch and pine straw to your landscape beds, it’s important to use the right amount. Too much mulch can suffocate plants and cause them to die, while too little can leave your plants vulnerable to weeds and other pests. The ideal amount of mulch for most landscape beds is 2-4 inches. Pinestraw should be applied in a thin layer, no more than 2 inches thick.

It’s also important to use the right type of mulch and pine straw for your landscape beds. Organic mulches, such as wood chips, bark, and compost, are best for most landscape beds. Pinestraw should be applied in a thin layer and should be free of debris and other contaminants.

Different Types Of Mulch In Franklin

There are many varieties of ground cover to choose from that will enhance the curb appeal and provide many benefits for your landscape. Here is a quick overview of the different varieties you can choose to have installed on your property.

Hardwood Bark Mulch

Hardwood bark mulch is a popular choice for landscape installs. It consist of aged pieces of bark from hardwood trees such as oak, maple, and hickory. An advantage of hardwood bark mulch is that is looks great and has a natural appearance that does not tend to fade quickly. As it decomposes, it is also great for the soil. Because of its bulky size it allows the soil to breathe by letting air pass through it.

Whole Tree Chipped Mulch

These are generally mulch chips from the power companies or a tree service. We do not recommend installing this type of mulch in landscaped areas. It is better suited for a natural area. This type of mulch tends to attract bugs because of how moist it is and and how moist the soil stays. A lot of times tree companies are removing a diseased or infested tree and you do not want that mulch around your ornamental landscape plants or trees. This mulch is also inconsistent in size and shape and decomposes fairly quickly.

Colored Brown Mulch

Hardwood blend mulches that are dyed in black, brown, or red are a very popular choice amongst many Franklin homeowners. The colors do a great job of contrast against different structures and landscape design. These dyed mulches tend to stay vibrant much longer than natural ground cover options. Not to worry, the dye used for these mulches are environmentally friendly. It is also treated with an iron oxide which can feed the soil while decomposing.

Cedar Mulch

Cedar trees provide an earthy aroma reddish color mulch. It is great for its landscape curb appeal and is known to repel insects. Termites dislike the aroma of cedar and tend to stay clear of it. While Cedar is a little more expensive it is a great option for your landscaped beds and around structures.

Pine Bark Mulch

Mulching with pine bark is a great way to keep acid loving plants thriving. It consists of pine trees as well as some spruces and firs. This can be applied in either a shredded form or a mini nugget variety. Pine mulch tends to decompose a little quicker than hardwood but adds a ton of nutrients for Azaleas and Camellias.

Shredded Hardwood Mulch

This type of mulch consists of smaller and thinner pieces, hence the name shredded. Shredded hardwood mulch is a great option for trapping moisture and adds nutrients quicker because of the speed at which it decomposes. This type of mulch tends to “stick” together better and can be great for sloped areas so it does not roll away. It is also much easier to blow leaves off of in the fall.

Certified Playground Mulch

This is a very refined shredded mulch that is designed with safety in mind for children’s play areas. The certification comes from meeting a set guideline of size requirements. This organic mulch also helps disperse ground impact from a child falling when installed at the correct thickness.