Warm days, cold nights, stunning foliage, and bright sunshine - autumn in Ottawa is a beautiful time of year! While summer might be over, there is still plenty of time to get some quality work done around your property to ensure that your lawn and gardens come back strong and healthy in the spring.
One way that you can start preparing for spring now is by spreading mulch around your trees and in your gardens and flowerbeds. Mulch is a natural product made from the bark and fibers of trees that are either chipped into small pieces or shredded. Not only does mulch add textural variety and visual appeal to your property, it also is an excellent way to naturally discourage weed growth and increase moisture retention in your soil.
At Greely Sand & Gravel we offer mulch made from pine and cedar trees in a wide array of colours. From a natural brown to a rich black, choose the colour that complements your home and property best! And no need to worry about harsh chemicals - all our mulches are coloured using biodegradable dyes, safe for children, pets, and the environment.
There are so many benefits to applying mulch around the base of trees or in your flowerbeds! A good layer of mulch helps to keep weeds at bay and protects your soil from getting too much sun which allows it to stay hydrated longer and is great for developing healthy plants. Additionally, choosing the right colour of mulch can be an excellent way to highlight the colour scheme and architectural features of your home’s exterior.
If you are laying mulch for the first time, we recommend creating a layer about 3” thick over your soil. This will ensure full coverage and better weed control as opposed to a thinner layer. For even more weed prevention and to keep the mulch from mixing with your soil, consider laying landscape fabric around your plants before applying the mulch. We have several great options for landscape fabric available at our landscape depots. If you have existing mulch and want to top it up, consider adding a 1” layer of new mulch to the area.
To calculate how much mulch you will need, find the length and width (in feet) of the space you want to cover and simply plug those numbers and your desired depth (in inches) into our Cubic Yard Calculator, found on the left side of every product page on our website.
You may have heard that cedar mulches are not good for your gardens as they can attract certain types of insects. In fact, the opposite is actually true! In most cases, cedar mulch and its strong aroma will deter bugs such as ants, moths, and mosquitos from entering and living in the space - just another benefit of adding mulch to your property!
Not sure what colour or type of mulch is right for you? Come out to any of our three conveniently located landscape depots (Greely, Kemptville, or West End) to see and touch our different options. Our knowledgeable team will be happy to answer all your questions and help select the right mulch for your project and property. We look forward to seeing you!