Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods

Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods

Maximize MulchMaximize Mulchwww.lsuagcenter.com/lyn

What Is Mulch?What Is Mulch?

Mulch is a layer of material placed on top of the soil.

Its purpose is to:• Conserve moisture by shading the ground from the

sun and blocking natural evaporation of soil water.• Retard weed seed germination by blocking light on

the soil.• Cover difficult-to-mow areas.• Improve soil as natural mulches break down.

Mulch is a layer of material placed on top of the soil.

Its purpose is to:• Conserve moisture by shading the ground from the

sun and blocking natural evaporation of soil water.• Retard weed seed germination by blocking light on

the soil.• Cover difficult-to-mow areas.• Improve soil as natural mulches break down.

Sources of MulchSources of Mulch

• Bagged or in bulk from retailers• Utility mulch– Ask power companies & arborists

• Local agricultural industries– Bark, bagasse, chicken litter, gin trash,

pecan shells• Recycled from your own yard– Pine straw, leaves, grass clippings

• Bagged or in bulk from retailers• Utility mulch– Ask power companies & arborists

• Local agricultural industries– Bark, bagasse, chicken litter, gin trash,

pecan shells• Recycled from your own yard– Pine straw, leaves, grass clippings

Utility MulchUtility Mulch

Improve leaf mulch appearance by mowing over it to reduce particle size

Improve leaf mulch appearance by mowing over it to reduce particle size

How to Use ItHow to Use It

• Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer around trees, shrubs and flowers. It will settle to 2-3 inches deep.

• Pull mulch away from the base of woody plants.

• Don’t build ‘volcanoes’ around trees, but spread evenly out to the drip line.

• Check depth twice a year and replenish as it decomposes.

• Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer around trees, shrubs and flowers. It will settle to 2-3 inches deep.

• Pull mulch away from the base of woody plants.

• Don’t build ‘volcanoes’ around trees, but spread evenly out to the drip line.

• Check depth twice a year and replenish as it decomposes.

Don’t Bag ItDon’t Bag It

• Grass roots take up nutrients to build leaves.

• Return those nutrients to the grass by using a mulching mower to drop finely chopped grass blades back onto the soil.

• Overly long clippings may be used as garden mulch or composted for top dressing material.

• Grass roots take up nutrients to build leaves.

• Return those nutrients to the grass by using a mulching mower to drop finely chopped grass blades back onto the soil.

• Overly long clippings may be used as garden mulch or composted for top dressing material.

How Much Do I Need?How Much Do I Need?• Measure the area to be mulched in sq ft (length X width).

• Convert the desired depth to feet (ex: 3” ÷ 12” = .25 ft)

• Multiply depth by sq ft of area to be covered (ex: .25 ft X 100 sq ft = 25 cubic ft.

• Convert to cubic yards by dividing by 27, and you can order by the truckload (ex: 25 cubic ft ÷ 27 = .926 cubic yards)

• Order .926 (1) cubic yard of mulch to cover 100 sq ft with 3 inches of mulch.

• Measure the area to be mulched in sq ft (length X width).

• Convert the desired depth to feet (ex: 3” ÷ 12” = .25 ft)

• Multiply depth by sq ft of area to be covered (ex: .25 ft X 100 sq ft = 25 cubic ft.

• Convert to cubic yards by dividing by 27, and you can order by the truckload (ex: 25 cubic ft ÷ 27 = .926 cubic yards)

• Order .926 (1) cubic yard of mulch to cover 100 sq ft with 3 inches of mulch.

A Little AdviceA Little Advice

• Although shells and stones may look nice, retain moisture and block weeds, they will never break down and provide additional nutrients.

• Cypress mulch might be coming from endangered wetlands. Don’t buy it unless you know exactly where it came from.

• Although shells and stones may look nice, retain moisture and block weeds, they will never break down and provide additional nutrients.

• Cypress mulch might be coming from endangered wetlands. Don’t buy it unless you know exactly where it came from.

Questions?www.lsuagcenter.com

Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods

Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods

Maximize MulchMaximize Mulchwww.lsuagcenter.com/lyn