Far too often, mulch is applied incorrectly as is illustrated in the drawing above. We prefer to call this a M U L C H   V O L C A N O !!!  This practice is potentially very damaging to the plant, tree or shrub that is surrounds. Most commonly "mulch volcano's" are found around the base of new or young trees.  Any material excessively piled up around the base of a tree can cause problems such as root rot, smothering of the roots, and infestation of pests and rodents. Mulch should never be applied around plants deeper than 5 inches (3-4 inches is preferred), and extra care should always be taken to see that the base of the plant, tree, or shrub is not smothered with excess mulch.  We recommend a 3-4 inch layer of quality hardwood mulch (never Bark Chips or Nuggets) in the garden, with a little less depth surrounding the plant.  Trees should be mulched the same depth with a circle around the base of the trunk that is not as deep as the surrounding ring of mulch (See drawing above).

     Land Escapes uses premium, quality, clean mulches that are available in a number of different varieties and colors.  Most commonly we use a "Light Hardwood" or "Western Red Cedar" mulch.  Also available is "Dark Hardwood", "Died Dark Oak", "Died Red", "Utility", "Cottonwood", and "Pine Needles".  Our hardwood mulches are even Certified  by the Mulch & Soil Council! Yes, quality, clean mulch may cost more than city or dump-offered mulch, however there is no guessing game as to what might be lurking in the mulch. No CCA chemicals, pests, trash, nails, sticks, etc.. Here is some more information about the types of mulch we offer:

LIGHT OR DARK HARDWOOD...Both of these are high quality, certified mulches.  The only difference is in the color. "Light" is obviously a lighter color although it's not quite as pale as cottonwood mulch.  "Dark" is obviousy a darker color although it's not as dark as the "died dark oak".  You may visit the Mulch & Soil Council website for further information about product certification:  www.mulchandsoilcouncil.org

WESTERN RED CEDAR...Our new "favorite"! This mulch has a pleasant cedar aroma and a warm reddish-brown color. Cedar is said to be a deterrant to pests.  We have found that this mulch deteriorates much slower and therefore does not need to be replenished nearly as often as the other wood mulches.  This mulch is however fairly lightweight and the cut is fairly equal and precise (not much variation or shredded pieces).  Therefore it is more likely to be washed away in a heavy rain or when applied on a moderate to severe slope.

DIED DARK OAK...This hardwood mulch is colored with a very dark brown pigmant that is harmless to the environment. The color is almost as dark as dirt.  It will hold it's color longer than non-died mulches, however we have found that it tends to mold and also can look very dirty when leaves or other debris fall on it due to the contrast in color. 

DIED RED...This mulch is often referred to as "Husker Red Mulch". It is exactly what the name implies, died red. Personally, I don't see the appeal of this stuff at all. I think it's just plain ugly. HOWEVER, everyone has their own opinion of what they like in their landscape and we want you to be happy since you're the one who has to live with your landscape on a daily basis.  SO, if red is what you're after, we'll gladly supply it for you.

COTTONWOOD...A good mulch that offers a light color.  It is a bit lighter weight than the hardwoods so if you are in an area that gets pounded by hard winds or have a problem with erosion, it may not be as good of a choice. It is not as lightweight as the cedar however and it is less expensive than the died mulches, cedar, and hardwoods. 

UTILITY...This inexpensive mulch is retained from a local tree service. The color and grind may vary between loads due to different types of trees being trimmed or cut down. Due to the "freshness" of this mulch, it may result in fewer blooms if used around flowering plants, especially annuals due to it tying up the nitrogen in the ground.  In addition, since it is made from trimmed or removed trees, we have no way of knowing what may be lurking in this mulch in the way of chemicals, trash, nails, and pests. We recommend using this mulch for pathways, commercial use, tree rings, or other areas not surrounding the foundation of a house or other seceptable structure. STILL...we have had NO REPORTS of problems with any of the above listed risks when using this mulch.  Just know that it's not certified clean and free of potential problems.

PINE NEEDLES...Pine needles are becoming more popular as a mulch material. They are especially good if you have an area that is already wooded or landscaped with evergreens as they give a natural look while providing the benefits of mulch.  Pine needles should be applied approximately 3 inches thick and don't have as much weed control benefit as wood mulch.  They are effective in areas that are sloped or have problems with mild erosion due to their ablility to weave together and hold their postion. Pine needles add acid to the soil which is especially good for plants such as Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas, Ferns, Dogwoods, Magnolias, Holly, all Evergreens, and more! Give this mulch a try if you're looking for something different. It also has a pleasing pine aroma that is especially noticable on warm summer days.

RUBBER MULCH...Rubber mulches are a fairly new and innovative material. The come in a wide range of colors and are ideal for using in childrens play areas, commercial or indoor uses where it may not be appropriate or efficient to use organic materials. The rubber mulches do not break down over time and retain their color. We do not suggest using these in regular landscapes and gardens as they would be hard to keep clean from leaves, dirt, and other landsape debris without losing some of the mulch...and therefore the cost of the investment in them. The are significantly more expensive than the organic materials, but have great value in the proper environment. One of our clients used a brown-colored rubber mulch under his children's outdoor play structure. His other gardens and trees were mulched with wood mulch of about the same color. This use enabled the play area to tie into the landscape without looking out of place. The rubber also provided a soft, forgiving surface for the kids to plan on without the worry of splinters or skinned knees. Rubber mulch would also be ideal in indoor commercial landscapes where plants are contained and no outside debris would interfere. Use your creativity to find your own use for Rubber Mulch!

MULCH MYTHS!!!

"Mulch causes termites to invade my home!"  ... This is misleading information that is usually passed on by pest control technicians to homeowners and is such a broad statement that it should be discounted.  Most bagged or nursery-bought mulches are clean and do not contain pests such as termites. If your house has or is going to have termites it is NOT because you put mulch in the gardens surrounding it. Buying low-grade, tree service, or dump-mulch may carry a higher risk of being infected with such pests, but that does not mean that they will attack your home.  Termites exist in every landscape and will only infest structures that offer a prime environment for them. This means dark, moist, rotting wood that has little or no airflow. Purchasing CERTIFIED MULCHES is your best way to feel 100% confident that your mulch is clean and you can put a boot in the pest control technicians #@*#*@! when he tells you that your mulch is the cause of your termite problems.

"Mulch will just wash or blow away!"  ... While it is true that some properties are sited in areas that are more succeptable to strong and gusty winds, please tell me the last time you were driving down a road and ran into a large cloud of mulch in the air? I have never seen any weather forcaster announce a warning for "blowing mulch"! OK, OK, so some mulch is bound to blow away in gusts or if it is particularly lightweight. But it is unlikely that you will loose your entire landscape of mulch to wind. One way to help prevent this is to "water down" newly applied mulch with a shower from your hose. This helps to set the mulch and lock the pieces together. Heavy rains may cause some lightweight mulches to wash away especially if the mulched area is on a moderate to severe slope or is located at the base of a downspout or other natural drainage way. When located in an average garden on fairly level terrain however unless we have a terrential, driving, gusty rain, chances are that mulch isn't going anywhere. In most cases, mulch is more likely to be carried off by passersby, kids, birds, squirrels, etc. or it just simply breaks down naturally.  Mulch should be expected to break down and will need to be reapplied every couple of years assuming the original application was appropriate and correct.

"Old mulch should be removed before new mulch is applied" ... Unless the old mulch was applied too thick and is matted or molded, there is no reason to remove old mulch. In the case of the old mulch being matted, this can be fixed by simply raking or breaking up the mulch before applying new mulch to the top. Matting and molding are typically not a problem when using a quality mulch that has a variance in sizes of the grind. However some mulches are more succeptable to matting or molding such as the Died Mulches and Cottonwood.  Regardless, neither of these issues will be harmful to your landscape and the mulch can simply be fluffed up before a new top layer is applied. The only time I would recommend removing the old mulch is if there is going to be a significant color change (i.e. old mulch is red, new mulch is natural hardwood). Otherwise, don't bother breaking your back removing the old stuff!