Your Guide To Spring Mulch In Indiana

When the official first day of spring comes, Hoosiers are anxious to get to work in their mulch beds. A few new plants, some perennial divisions, and a fresh layer of mulch is a surefire way to welcome the warmer weather and quality time spent outdoors.

Be sure to wait for the final snowflakes to fall before starting in your landscape.

Clean out your Mulch beds

Not only should you clean out the debris from your mulch beds (leaves, sticks, etc.), but landscapes with clean edges also enhance the appearance and give a more professional look. Both clean up and edging should be completed before installing new mulch. Use an edging shovel or power edger to accomplish clean lines. Pro tip: use your garden hose as a guide to create nice, flowing curves to cut.

Consider your plants

If you are planting any new annuals, perennials, trees, or shrubs in your landscape, you must wait until after the last frost of the season. This will ensure that the plants get a great start in their new location. An old wife’s tale recommends waiting to plant even until after Mother’s Day.

We always recommend planting BEFORE you install new mulch to keep your mulch beds looking fresh as long as possible.

Order your mulch

We try to make ordering mulch as simple as possible. The first thing you need to know is how many cubic yards of mulch you need to get the job done. From there, you can browse our options online or call our office and we can make a recommendation.

On your chosen delivery date, the mulch will be dumped in your driveway per your delivery instructions. Time to get to work!

Timing is everything with Dyed Mulches

Now, you have planted your new perennials, cleaned out your mulch beds, created perfect edges, it may finally be time to mulch. If you are mulching with dyed mulch, pay special attention to the weather forecast. Dyed mulch must remain dry for 28 hours once installed in your landscape, or the dye may run off the mulch.

Apply a pre-emergent before Mulch

Right before installing mulch is the time to prevent weeds. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weeds from germinating. Always read the product label before application.

Time to Mulch

You can now start spreading your mulch. You can use your hands or rake to spread it all over. The ideal thickness is 2-4 inches. If you spread the mulch too thin, weeds may emerge more easily. If you spread the mulch too thick, water may not reach the soil to hydrate plants.

Say NO to Mulch Volcanoes

Mulch volcanoes occur when mulch is piled around the trunk of a tree or shrub. These are detrimental to the health of the plant by encouraging disease and decay, and preventing proper root development.

Maintaining your Mulch

A month or so after your mulch has been spread, check for compaction. If the mulch is compacted, use a rake to loosen it. This allows for air and water to pass through, which helps prevent the growth of fungus and restores a fresh appearance.