1) Why use mulch?

Mulch can be a miracle worker when used properly. Some of its many benefits include:

Conserves the soil’s moisture by reducing evaporation.

Reduces competition of water from turf grass and other plants.

Insulates the ground from extreme temperature changes. Mulch keeps the soil cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Suppresses the growth of weeds.

Slows or prevents erosion by reducing run-off and makes it difficult to dislodge soil.

Improves soil quality. Provides nutrients for the soil as it breaks down and even improves the soil texture.

Gives the ground a protective buffer from landscaping equipment (ie: commercial mowers and string trimmers). This protective covering keeps these machines from compacting the tree’s soil and also from breaking roots.

Makes over-all landscaping easier to maintain.

Aesthetically pleasing. Mulch can enhance landscape designs and accentuate the colors of plants.

Offers a cost-effective alternative to permanent groundcovers, such as cement, track flooring, etc.

2) How do I figure the cubic yardage of mulch that I need?

3) At what depth should I apply my product?

For new mulch installation jobs, a 3 to 4 inch application of mulch is recommended. If mulch already exists, a 1 to 2 inch application is recommended.
 
Mulch in play areas is generally recommended to have an application depth of at least 12 inches. Follow your manufacturer’s recommendations when mulching your project.

4) Why shredded mulch rather than chipped?

When mulch is shredded (rather that crushed or chipped), the rough edges created in the process allow the mulch pieces to bind together, composing a blanket-like foundation on the landscape floor. This method in mulch manufacturing is the best at preventing floatation and also keeps the mulch from being blown away in high winds.

5) How often do I need to re-apply?

Depending on the depth of the previously applied much, environment or amount of foot-traffic the mulched area is susceptible to, mulch manufactured by Amerigrow will generally only need to be re-applied once a year. Some manufacturers recommend re-application of their products every six months. As mulch fades, rake off the first layer of mulch to expose the “fresher” mulch below it or blend the weathered mulch with the more vibrant lower layers.

6) What’s the difference between bags and bulk?

On a general note, it is lower in cost to buy mulch and soil in bulk form rather than in bags, but sometimes the bags themselves offer additional benefits that may, in fact, offer you some hidden savings. It all depends what your project requires. Some benefits of purchasing bagged mulch and soil include:

May be easier to spread product when installing by hand.

Less cleanup involved from scattered debris.

Easy to stage the product from one location to another.

Provides consistent monitoring of product usage.

Gives you the ability to disperse the product throughout your projects.

Labeling helps determine its contents.

To determine the quantity difference between bagged and bulk products, it takes approximately 13.5 two-cubic foot bags to equal one cubic yard of mulch.

Soil bags are usually one cubic foot in size, or 40 Lbs. It will take approximately 27 bags of soil to equate one cubic yard of soil.

7) Why blow-on installation over bulk or bagged?

Blow-on Installation is the most advanced practice to have mulch and soil installed. There are many reasons why this service stands above all others, the most important being price! Take into consideration the time it takes to manually spread your mulch and soil. Manual spreading of 60 cubic yards can take more than a day to install with landscape crews, while tying up your laborers. When you use a blow-on crew to install the same amount, it can be completed in two to three hours.

Additional Benefits of using Blow-on Installation

300’+ of hose is powerful enough to reach vitually anywhere, such as: berms, across canals, over walls, around fences and on rooftops.

Many product varieties are able to be blown-on.

The application process offers a more even product distribution than bulk and bagged installations.

Re-allocate your crew and utilize them in more economical maintenance-work to create room for new business and more profit.

Spend less and make more with blow-on, as opposed to bulk and bag installations which are: costly, labor intensive, messy, unnecessarily time consuming, dangerous and take larger crews to cover less ground.

Eliminate risk to landscape crews doing dangerous roadside installations.

With blow-on, there are no messy and inconvenient bags and pallets to dispose of.
 

8) Why use Melaleuca mulch?

Melaleuca, also known as the punk tree or paperbark tea tree, is native to Australia and was introduced to Florida in the 1920’s to dry up the wetlands, but has become increasingly invasive to many natural wetland and upland areas, including the Florida Everglades. Having taken over hundreds of thousands of acres of our Everglades and killed off vital native species to Florida, prevention of further loss from degradation of wetlands is essential in the restoration of the south Florida ecosystem.

Invasive species like Melaleuca contribute to degradation of the wetlands, and should be curtailed. When Melaleuca is purchase instead of Cypress, for example, you help Melaleuca-infested areas return to a more natural state by creating space for native species, like Cypress. By buying Melaleuca mulch, you are in effect helping to restore the Cypress population and Florida Wetlands.

9) Are there toxins in my mulch?

Many manufacturing companies in the mulch industry use construction and demolition (C & D) wood and painted or varnished woods in their mulch. These types of materials contain heavy metals such as: arsenic, copper and chromium. Rely only on companies (like Amerigrow) that can guarantee you (with current test results) that their products do not contain dangerous levels of these toxins.

Look for companies that only use NON-toxic and environmentally safe colorants in their mulch. This will guarantee that, even at the level of coloring, their product is still safe.

Amerigrow offers the highest level of “Environmentally Superior” ™ products on the market and has the safest and most ecologically sound options to choose from.

10) Are Amerigrow’s mulch colorants safe for plants and animals?

Yes! Amerigrow uses ONLY environmentally friendly products. The raw materials used to make the Amerimulch colorants are made from naturally occurring minerals in the earth’s surface. These colorants, as well as the other ingredients in the Amerimulch colorant, are specifically formulated to be nontoxic to plants and animals. Amerigrow is your “Environmentally Superior” ™ provider.

11) What is Mulch and Soil Council “Certified” mulch?

The Mulch and Soil Council is the trade association of horticultural mulches, consumer potting soils and commercial growing media. It was developed to create guidelines within the industry. Products qualifying for the certification program must pass product and label review, laboratory testing and periodic field inspection before carrying the MSC certification mark on bags.

Below are The Mulch and Soil Council’s eight key goals:

Goal 1: Promote Guidelines, Standards and Certification

Goal 2: Promote Ethical Business Practices

Goal 3: Promote Fair and Reasonable Laws and Regulations

Goal 4: Provide Industry Education & Training

Goal 5: Promote Industry Growth

Goal 6: Collect, Coordinate & Disseminate Information

Goal 7: Promote Research and Industry Technology

Goal 8: Expand the Association

In addition to these key goals, The Mulch and Soil Council Certified products must:

Conform to the Council’s “truth-in-labeling” requirements.

Pass laboratory testing, including weights and measures.

Pass greenhouse growth testing (soils) and chemical testing for CCA treated wood contaminants (mulch).

Pass random audit testing in retail markets.

12) Where do I find the right product for my project?

Amerigrow is South Florida’s #1 provider of “Environmentally Superior”™ mulch and soil varieties. Contact your local Amerigrow office to learn all of your options and find out what product will be best for your project. Our customer service team is here to help you find your best solution.