Frequently Asked Questions

We encourage you to visit our location in Concordville, Pennsylvania to see our variety of mulch products (triple shredded, natural, red, brown, black, root, hardwood bark, playground certified, and woodchips) and speak with our knowledgeable employees to choose the best mulch for your needs.

HERE ARE SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MULCH:

What is mulch and what are its benefits?

Mulch is a protective covering (such as decaying leaves, bark, wood chips, or compost) placed around growing plants to enrich or insulate the soil, prevent moisture evaporation, protect roots, suppress the growth of weeds, and enhance appearance.

When should mulch be applied?

Mulch can be applied almost anytime throughout the year. Winter mulching is usually done for decorative purposes. When mulching during the winter, it is recommended to apply the mulch with about one inch of thickness to prevent warming the soil. Spring mulching is done to prevent premature weed growth and is usually applied with a thickness of two to three inches. Spring mulching is also done for cosmetic reasons.

How much mulch is needed?

Mulch is purchased by the cubic yard. Follow these steps to calculate how much mulch you may need for your project:

Measure the area you want to cover in mulch.

Multiply the Length (in feet) by the Width (in feet).

Divide by 27.

Divide by 12.

Multiply by the Depth (thickness in inches) of the mulch cover.

The result approximates the number of cubic yards of mulch your landscaping project is likely to need.

What about round or circular areas?

Use our convenient Mulch Calculator to estimate how much material (mulch, soil, sand, or stone) is needed for a square/rectangular area or a round/circular area.

How much is one cubic yard?

One cubic yard is equal to 27 cubic feet and covers (approximately):

100 square feet at 3 inches deep

150 square feet at 2 inches deep

Depending on the size of your wheelbarrow, one cubic yard is roughly equivalent to:

7 wheelbarrows that each hold 4-cubic feet

5.5 wheelbarrows that each hold 5-cubic feet

4.5 wheelbarrows that each hold 6-cubic feet

Contact us for more information. We're happy to assist you!

How is mulch applied?

Mulching provides a neat appearance to your landscape while helping to reduce weed growth. Here are a few important Do's and Do Not's when it comes to mulching:

DO re-mulch your trees, shrubs, and planting beds every 12 to 18 months.

DO periodically remove any mulch build-up.

DO apply mulch lightly: 2 to 3 inches on new plantings; 1 to 2 inches when re-mulching.

DO "turn and fluff up" mulch once a year to keep it fresh, prevent caking, and prevent artillery fungus from forming. See answers to Frequently Asked Questions about artillery fungus by Dr. Donald D. Davis of Penn State University (link opens in a new tab or window).

DON'T apply mulches deeper than 3 to 4 inches. MORE IS NOT BETTER!

DON'T heap mulch around the trunks of trees. This will cause rot and insect damage.

DON'T forget to mulch!

Note: If you're mulching over existing mulch, make sure to loosen or remove the existing mulch before you start. This helps to ensure better moisture penetration.

What's in a name?

Beware of mulch names. All mulches are not created equal! A competitor may call their mulch "premium", but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the best for your needs. Instead, it may simply be the best that's available from that competitor.

Beware of commonly used words designed to make mulches sound other or better than what they are! "Licorice" is sometimes used to describe dyed black mulch. When you see, "organic", note that all wood mulches are organic.

What about color and dyed mulches?

Better grade mulches are generally darker in color and have better moisture retention, however, they decompose faster. All mulches fade in color due to bleaching from the sun. All of the dyed mulches from Best Mulch, Inc. are dyed with non-toxic, organic material.

What about quality and safety certifications?

Beware of playground mulches that are NOT certified! Our certified playground mulch passes HIC and ASTM certifications. (We have corresponding paperwork on file for review upon request.)

What else do you provide?

In addition to mulch, we also sell the area's best topsoil, mushroom soil, fill dirt, rocks, stones, and sand.

See photos of our trucks and loader buckets (includes technical specifications) used for pickups and delivery.

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