Mulch offers major benefits for your garden, but mistakes can hurt your back, wallet, and plants. A wheelbarrow and proper tools ease this labor-intensive task, while quick calculations ensure you buy and spread the right amount.
Applied properly, mulch prevents weeds, protects soil structure, reduces moisture loss and nutrient leaching, and prevents soil splashing, says David Kopsell, Professor of Horticulture at Illinois State University.
But pile mulch too close to trees and shrubs, and you risk harming them. Landscape fabric often creates more problems than it solves. Too much mulch can suffocate your garden.
Here’s how to mulch the right way, in 8 easy steps. Or, keep it simple and let a professional gardener handle the job.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
- Mulch (we’ll help you determine how much you need in step 1)
- Landscaping rake
- Garden hoe or other weeding tool
- Shovel
- Garden gloves
- Wheelbarrow or cart
Step 1: Calculate how much mulch you need
You don’t need to be a math whiz to figure out how much mulch you need. Lawn Love’s mulch calculator does the work for you.
First, you’ll need to measure the garden bed’s square footage. Next, determine your desired mulch depth in inches. Plug in these numbers, and the calculator tells you how much mulch you’ll need in cubic feet.
Vegetable gardens and flower beds typically require a mulch depth of 2 to 3 inches. Trees and shrubs usually need 2 to 4 inches of mulch.
Step 2: Clear the area
Mulch will not kill well-established weeds, so clear the garden bed before application.
Remove all weeds, sticks, trash, and debris from the mulching area. Pull weeds by hand when possible, making sure to remove the entire root system to prevent regrowth. For stubborn weeds, use a garden hoe or weeding tool to dig out the roots.
Clear away any rocks, fallen branches, or old plant material that could create uneven spots under your mulch layer.
Step 3: Level the soil
A level surface helps ensure consistent mulch depth across the entire garden bed.
Use a landscaping rake to smooth the soil surface and create an even base. Break up any clumps of dirt and fill in low spots to prevent water pooling. If you’re working around existing plants, gently rake around them without disturbing the roots.
Step 4: Load your wheelbarrow
“Either way you look at it, applying or spreading mulch is physical work,” says Kopsell.
To make the workload easier, Kopsell recommends using a cart or wheelbarrow to haul the mulch between different areas of the yard.
Position your wheelbarrow nearby to reduce the need for back-and-forth trips and speed up the job with less back pain.
Want to skip this laborious task altogether? Consider alternatives. “Using cover crops as ‘living mulches’ to protect the soil could greatly reduce or even eliminate having to spread a mulch material, too,” adds Kopsell.
Step 5: Create mulch piles
Using a shovel or your hands, dump small heaps of mulch throughout the bed, about one shovel-full every 3 to 4 feet. Space these piles evenly across the bed to make spreading easier and ensure you cover the entire area without running out.
These “distribution piles” help you gauge if you have enough mulch and prevent over-applying in one spot while leaving other areas thin.
Step 6: Spread to proper depth
Using gloved hands or a rake, spread the mulch piles into an even layer to your desired depth. A rake works best for large areas, while hands give you better control around delicate plants.
Avoid going deeper than 4 inches, as excessive mulch blocks oxygen and water from reaching plant roots, suffocates beneficial soil organisms, and creates hiding spots for pests.
Step 7: Keep mulch away from plant bases
This is critical: Keep mulch 2 to 3 inches away from plant stems and 6 to 12 inches from tree trunks, creating a small cleared circle around each plant.
The root flare (where the trunk widens at the base) should always be visible. Piling mulch against plants creates “mulch volcanoes” that trap moisture against bark and stems, leading to rot, fungal disease, insect damage, and pest problems. For trees, extend mulch out to the drip line (edge of the canopy) for maximum benefit.
Step 8: Water lightly
After spreading, lightly water the mulched area with a garden hose or sprinkler until the mulch is damp but not soaked.
This helps the mulch settle into place, starts the process of bonding pieces together, and prevents lightweight materials like shredded bark or straw from blowing away in wind. Watering also prevents dry mulch from initially absorbing moisture from the soil that your plants need.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Lay Mulch
No, you don’t need to remove old organic mulch. Simply rake it to break up any matted layers, then add fresh mulch on top to achieve the desired depth. This saves time and the decomposing mulch enriches your soil.
“Using a porous material like permeable landscape fabric under mulch can be a good practice to prevent weed growth,” says Kopsell.
However, Kopsell also adds that a garden mulch two to four inches deep is enough to prevent weed growth.
Gardeners are divided when it comes to landscape fabric. On the one hand, it does provide weed control and can help prevent erosion. On the other hand, landscape fabric can lead to an unhealthy soil structure.
Wood chips and shredded bark are popular choices that work well in most landscapes. Choose based on your plants’ needs, your budget, and aesthetic preferences. Organic mulches (wood, bark, straw) improve soil over time as they decompose.
Need to choose the right mulch for your garden? Check out Lawn Love’s guide on different types of mulch.
Organic mulch typically needs refreshing every 1 to 3 years depending on the type. Wood chips and bark last 2 to 3 years, while lighter materials like leaves or grass clippings break down faster and need annual replenishment.
Need Professional Help?
Mulching can be physically demanding, especially for larger properties. Lawn Love connects you with local gardening professionals who can handle your mulching project efficiently, leaving you with a polished landscape without the backache.
Main Image: Mulched backyard garden bed of a house. Image Credit: Tom Britt / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Related Posts:
