There have been enough mild-weather days recently to definitively signal that Spring has arrived. Many homeowners may be poised and ready to schedule their mulch delivery. Are your hands getting itchy, ready to wrap themselves around shovels and slide into gardening gloves? You may be very eager to jump right into the fray of turning soil and clearing out dead leaves and debris from flower beds, but wait!  

That layer of gray leaves, twigs and such may be an eyesore you are ready to be rid of. But, they are actually doing a job. They are acting as a protective layer for the topsoil of your planting areas. So, first things first. While you take the time to select the kind of mulch to use and schedule a mulch delivery, just leave things be! Find out the double shredded difference and you'll never want to use any other type of mulch again. Once you know when to expect your delivery, then you can prepare your landscape areas.

Where It Comes From: The key to hardwood mulch popularity is in the performance of double shredded hardwood mulches. Hardwood, by its very nature, is durable and robust. It's not called soft-wood or wimpy-wood, but hardwood. There's a reason for such a name. To officially be a double shredded hardwood mulch, it must be derived from the right kind of tree.

The hardwood tree family is made up of the likes of hickory, pecan, maples, oaks, beech, birch, ash and walnuts. Being classified as a hardwood identifies a tree as having superior strength and resistance to damage that mars the wood. Hardwoods are the preferred source of timber for milled products like cabinetry and flooring. Top rated hardwoods are ranked as requiring more than 1,000 pounds of pressure to produce a mar on the finished surface. When used in the garden as mulch, this quality means that double shredded hardwood mulch will last much longer than other mulches.

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Performance: In addition to superior strength that delivers superior performance, what, exactly, does double shredded hardwood mulch do for the landscape?

• Prevents weed germination and suppresses weed growth
• Conserves water by minimizing evaporation of water in the soil
• Has a heavier weight than other mulches which prevents scattering. In other words, it stays put so there is less housekeeping needed to keep the garden tidy.
• Enriches the underlying soil with nutrients as it biodegrades.

Aging: When shopping for double shredded hardwood mulch you may notice descriptions about how long the product has been aged. At first you may think the longer a mulch ages, the less nutritious it would be. The logical questions, then, are, "Why does aging matter? How long should a double shredded hardwood mulch be aged?" 

When applying mulch to flower beds or vegetable crops, you want the mulch ready to deliver the nutrients it contains. If freshly crafted wood mulch was applied, it would take weeks, perhaps months, for the material to decompose to the state where it is soft enough to begin leaching nutrients into the soil. By the time it got around to delivering nutrient to the soil, Spring would be over!

Wood mulch that is not aged at all can actually rob the soil of vital nitrogen. It needs nitrogen in the early stages of decomposition. This creates a bad situation for freshly planted ornamentals or young plants that need all the nitrogen they can get in order to become firmly established and thrive.

Double shredded hardwood mulches that have been aged for about 4-6 months are primed and ready for application in Spring gardens. The mulch should appear dark and have a crumbly aspect to its texture. Your nose should be able to detect the distinct aroma of earthy compost.

Preparation: Mulch serves several purposes in the garden: suppressing weed growth, conserving water and enriching the soil. Before you just dump a thick layer of mulch on top of your flowerbeds, take the time to properly prepare them. Get the most out of your mulch delivery!

• Clear: Grab your rake and clear out all the debris from flower beds and planting areas (but don't dispose of this "stuff", save it for later). 
• Weed: Get your mulch off to a good start with weed control by pulling up as many weeds as possible or snipping them close to the ground. 
• Breathe: Put to use your aerator tool and give the soil a breath of fresh air. Loosening things up creates optimum soil conditions for healthy root systems.
• Edging: This is the time to repair or install edging materials that will help contain mulch, keeping it where it belongs.
• Sort & Pile: Now return to all the debris you raked out of the garden in the first place. Separate any non-organic matter. Collect remaining organic debris, like leaves and small twigs, in a pile. This organic material can be used as additional soil amendment matter, returning nutrients to the soil as it biodegrades. It is better to work it back into the soil rather than mix it with mulch because it may contain weed seeds. By being underneath a layer of mulch, even if the seed germinates, the weed will be prevented from growth because it will not receive any sunlight.
• Mulch: Now it is time for the grand finale! Lay on the mulch in a healthy, thick layer, at least 2-4 inches in depth. When mulching around trees make sure to leave a margin of about 4-6 inches between the line of mulch and the tree trunk. 

Virginia and Maryland homeowners have been trusting Saunders Landscaping Service for more than two decades for their gardening supplies and mulch needs. Please contact us. An expert team member can help you select a color and determine how much mulch you need for your outdoor project. Then all you have to do is wait for your mulch delivery!

FREE DELIVERY of Landscape Supplies to your Home!

Beautiful yards and public spaces do not happen by accident. They require careful planning. Mulch plays a huge role in creating beautiful landscapes. In fact, 57 percent of the landscaping supplies that we sold last spring was total mulch. This mulching blog focuses on why mulch is important and how you can plan for mulch delivery.

Why Mulch Is Important

Mulch is important for a variety of reasons and those reasons change based on how the application of mulch occurs. For example, why and how mulch usage occurs in a flower bed is different from how we use it in a playground setting. Yet, both locations benefit greatly from the addition of mulch.

Benefits of Mulch

In landscaping, mulch is an excellent tool that:

• Helps to keep weed growth down to a minimum by allowing for the use of weed cloth and in conjunction with time released herbicides.
• Helps improve soil moisture levels during the hotter months by reducing evaporation of water at the soil surface.
• Creates a finished look to flower beds and vegetable gardens, especially when colored mulch is part of the bed's design.
• Helps to control insects in two ways. Cedar mulch, which is available for delivery only in Virginia is a well-known insect repellant. The second way that mulch helps control insects is when used with time release pesticides. Just place the pesticide on the soil's surface and the mulch is then placed over the pesticide granules. The mulch keeps the pesticides in place and allows them to provide better coverage for controlling pest insects.
• Mixes well with other products such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and irrigation.
• Provides a boost to soil nutrients. As mulch decomposes it returns nutrients back to the soil.
• Keeps fertilizer in place. In much the same way that mulch helps keep pesticides and herbicides in place, it also helps to keep fertilizer in place. This makes it easier to use special types of fertilizer on specific plants and to add fertilizer to a broader area.
• Protects drip irrigation and soaker hoses from sun damage by making it easy to cover irrigation lines and soaker hoses.

The list of benefits that mulch provides is long and each of these examples is also an example of good planning. As you plan your landscaping projects this year consider the benefits of mulch delivery. At Saunders Landscaping Supply, we make it easy to address landscaping issues before they occur. Insect control is an excellent example of how landscape planning benefits not only the landscape but also how much enjoyment we receive from the landscape.

How to Plan for Mulch Usage in Landscape Design

Whether you are installing a playground, maintaining a garden, or looking for ways to improve the curb appeal of your home landscape planning matters. With any project, planning starts with addressing your goals. What do you want to achieve? Can Mulch help you achieve your goals? Let's explore.

At Saunders Landscape Supply, we make landscaping projects easier. First, we offer a huge selection of products that we will deliver directly to your driveway. We stock six types of mulch each of which helps add to your landscaping project. We offer three variations of color enhanced mulch — Red, brown, and black — that make a beautifully cohesive and attractive landscaping statement.

Weed Control and Mulch

Mulch is a great tool for weed abatement. Simply place weed cloth over the area and stake it. Next add mulch to the top and you have reduced your labor requirement for weeding large areas and added an attracted look to your landscape design. A good tip for this project is to use two kinds of mulch. Once you place the weed cloth, cover it with wood chips as these decompose slower. The final step is to cover the wood chips with double shredded hardwood mulch or leaf mulch. Both decompose faster than do wood chips. This means that next year, you need only to replace the top layer for a stunning look to your landscape.

In areas where weeds are insanely out of control, consider using weed specific herbicide granules on the soil surface and then placing the weed cloth. This will reduce the weeds before they reach the weed cloth.

Reach out to us about your landscaping projects as our professionals can help you achieve a cost-effective landscape without cost-saving tips.

Save on Watering

Mulch helps you reduce your water usage in a couple of ways. First, it helps retain soil moisture so that you water less frequently. Second, it provides an easy way to protect soaker hoses and drip irrigation from UV exposure and decomposition. Using mulch to protect irrigation helps you save water by making it easier and more affordable to install and maintain irrigation.

Pest Control and Mulch

Mulch makes a perfect cover for pest control products. If you use time release products, the mulch helps to keep the pesticides in place so that they have time to do their job. Without mulch, pesticides wash away, especially on slopes. The same is true with herbicides.

Plan Now for Spring Landscaping Projects

Saunders Landscape Supply makes it easy to order mulch for delivery. You don't have to miss work as we will deliver mulch to your driveway even when you are not home.

We have a five cubic yard minimum for delivery and there is no delivery fee. You can order online or call us directly.

In Maryland Phone: (301) 461-5687

In Northern Virginia Phone: (703) 764-4831

Mulch delivery makes landscaping project easier and yards more beautiful. What's on your spring landscaping calendar?

As the clock begins ticking for the worst of winter weather to begin winding down, many homeowners start eyeing their lawns longingly. It won't be long before those bedraggled flower beds will be filled with the bright colors of spring flowers. Although colorful plantings and lush greenery capture most of our attention, don't forget about the foundation of a healthier, more trouble-free garden: mulch. Rather than lug bag after heavy bag from store to car then from car to garden, schedule a convenient mulch delivery. But, before you pick up the phone, you need to decide which kind of mulch is best for your landscaping and how much you are going to need.

Why Mulch:

Mulch is a must-have garden media if you want to engage in the best gardening and landscaping practices. Regardless of the particular variety of mulch used, all mulches have similar purposes that they serve:

• Makes gardening easier by minimizing weed growth. Weed growth can practically be eliminated if a deep enough application of mulch is used that prevents weed germination altogether.
• Conserves water usage by preventing evaporation around plantings.
• Decomposes and breaks down over time which contributes nutrients to the soil, enriching flower beds and landscape areas, resulting in healthier plants.

Double Shredded Hardwood:

This particular type of mulch is growing in popularity. That may be due to the variety of natural shades of brown that are available allowing every homeowner to find a suitable hue to complement their home's color of brick, patio paving stones, shrubbery or whatever is the focal feature of their lawn and garden. But is this particular type of mulch more than just a pretty face? Is there more to appreciate than just a lovely shade of brown? The process of double shredding creates a mulch that is more uniform in shape and size so it stays put better. Rather than deal with pesky mulch strays needing to be tidied up, once the mulch is installed it stays where it's supposed to be.

Color-Enhanced:

For lovers of color, or those who simply demand color-coordination, hardwood mulch can be color-enhanced with environmentally-friendly dyes. The dyes used are of such quality that mulch will retain its color vibrancy throughout the entire season. If you really want your flowerbeds to pop with colorized texture, select the appropriate hue of compliment or contrast: blond, red, black or brown.

Leaf Mulch:

Avid garden hobbyists who carefully cultivate landscape features organically in order to protect the biodiversity of nature, may also prefer the use of beneficial insects. There is a mulch for that! Spreading out leaf mulch is like laying out the welcome mat for earthworms. A flower bed rich in earthworm colonies is like having live-in fertilizers and oxygenators in your landscaping! Put nature to work with leaf mulch and effortlessly improve the health of your garden!

Playground Carpet:

If it's common that young children or pets are traipsing through the garden, this is the perfect mulch for tender paws, knees and elbows. Finely shredded, it is gentle enough underfoot to use around playsets. Feature in the landing area at the base of slides or under swings where puddles often form if left untreated. The light, sandy color is a natural yet striking contrast to the surrounding greenness of the lawn. This color contrast helps define a designated play area which can help children identify their play area's boundaries.

Playground Wood Chips:

For large gardens which may feature natural paths or a grove of trees that lacks grassy undergrowth, lay down this sturdy, rugged mulch to improve surface texture, prevent erosion, and enrich the underlying soil as the mulch slowly degrades. Even after a long, rainy day, a stroll through your favorite wooded area will not become a soggy, muddy mess. Instead it remains a pleasure as you trod above the bog on a layer of wood chips.

Cedar:

Do you love the tingly aroma of cedar? Do you detest insects? You can get what you love and avoid what you despise with this type of mulch. Some of the top spots for cedar mulch are:

• Patio Areas: While relaxing on the patio, cedar mulch helps redirect pesky insects making snacking and lounging a more pleasant experience.
• Pet Areas: Kennels, dog houses and dog runs are prime attractions for all sorts of pests. Keep Fido more comfortable and hygienic with a layer of cedar where he hangs out and naps in the great outdoors.
• Storage Areas: Garden sheds and auxiliary storage buildings are popular places for pests to hide, living long, comfortable, sheltered lives among boxes and bins that are rarely delved into. Avoid spider surprises during seasonal digs in storage areas with a healthy dose of cedar mulch around the perimeters of outdoor auxiliary buildings and add a splash of floral color! Not only will you be creating a safer space but also beautifying what might otherwise have been an outdoor eyesore.

How Much?

Getting a mulch delivery is a great time saver as well as an amazing back-strain saver. When browsing the many options in mulch, it's common to see mulch measured in cubic yards. The average homeowner may ask, "What does that mean? How much is that? How much do I need?" The good news is that you don't need to be a trigonometry expert to figure out how much mulch you should have delivered. You want to make sure that you have enough to cover the surface of a flower bed as well as create sufficient depth in order to get the most out of mulch benefits. Landscaping experts have done the hard work of calculation for you! Just apply this simple formula to estimate how many cubic yards you will need for all of your landscaping areas:

• 1 cubic yard covers 100 square feet with 3 inches of mulch depth.

Basically, what that means is that one cubic yard of mulch will provide coverage for 3 flower beds that measure approximately 3 feet deep by 10 feet long. That is also enough coverage for a standard swing set. So, measure and count your flowerbeds, trees, outbuilding perimeters, outdoor pet spaces, and play areas and determine just how much mulch you need delivered! If you need help with the calculations, please contact us. Our experienced landscape professionals are happy to assist you and answer your gardening questions.

Mulch delivery is an affordable service that helps keep yards looking beautiful without a huge investment in labor. Mulch helps keep weeds down, improves water efficiency, and adds a cohesive look to landscaping. Saunders Landscape Supply delivers mulch throughout Maryland and Northern Virginia at affordable prices.

Use our Zip code Pricing Tool to discover how much our Double Shredded Hardwood Mulch is per cubic yard in your area.

Our services include:

Double Shredded Hardwood Mulch

This is a softer stringy mulch that is excellent in decorative landscaping beds. It works well to stop or reduce weed growth and it is excellent at retaining soil moisture. As its name implies, this is a shredded mulch rather than chipped. Your zip code determines the price for Double Shredded Hardwood Mulch. Delivery is available in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Color Enhanced Mulch

Our Color Enhanced Mulch is available in red, brown, and black and gives property owners the opportunity to create a stunning landscape effect. Our Color Enhanced Mulch does not fade and holds its color much longer than Double Shredded Mulch. If you want consistent color for landscaping projects, this is the mulch for you. It helps to control weeds and it is excellent at holding moisture in the soil. Your zip code determines the pricing for Color Enhanced Mulch. Delivery is available in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Playground Carpet Mulch

This is a lovely grade of mulch that is soft without being pokey or sharp. It is a perfect addition to playgrounds where smaller children play. It has a soft cushioning that helps absorb the shock at the bottom of slides and around play equipment were falls can occur. The compact nature of this mulch makes it easy to clean, yet, it still provides a soft cushion. Delivery is available in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Playground Wood Chips

Playground wood chips are perfect for high traffic areas and where older children play. They are perfect under climbing structures and swings as they help to define an area, filling ruts, and create a smooth and level playing area. These chips help to reduce weeds and they do a good job of absorbing moisture. The benefit of using Playground Wood Chip mulch is that it lasts much longer than many other types of mulch. It has a slower decomposition rate meaning that it needs replacing less often and that adds value to this product.

Cedar Mulch

This mulch is only available in Northern Virginia and not deliverable to Maryland. Cedar Mulch is a wonderful mulching product. It is similar to Double Shredded Hardwood Mulch but adds in a few additional benefits. First, Cedar Mulch has the ability to deter insects. Cedar is a hardwood and when used in furniture it helps drive away moths and other insects. As a mulch, those same benefits apply. Cedar Mulch makes an excellent and green tool for keeping outdoor insect pests at bay. Cedar Mulch

Cedar Mulch also has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. What this means for property owners is that Cedar Mulch decomposes much slower than other hardwood mulch such as our Double Shredded Hardwood Mulch. Expect our Cedar Mulch to help repel insects. It is also an excellent barrier against weeds and it is a top product for holding moisture in the soil.

How to Determine How Much Mulch You Need

Use our Calculator: If you know the area measurements (width and length) measured in feet then you can determine how much mulch you need using our online calculator. You will need to add in the depth, which how many inches deep you want the layer of mulch and the calculator will do the rest.

Use the Area of the Project: If you know the area of landscaping bed then you can determine how much mulch you need by using the fact that one cubic yard of mulch covers 108 square feet.

Delivery Rates and Requirements

The pricing of mulch is by the cubic yard. There is a five cubic yard minimum for delivery and your zip code determines the price in cubic yards. For an online estimate of our pricing visit our Mulch page where you can use our pricing tool by entering your zip code.

Note: The price per yard is the price you pay. We do not charge a delivery fee, but we do require a five-yard minimum purchase for delivery. In rural areas, we may assess a delivery fee due to the added time for travel and labor.

How to Schedule Delivery

At Saunders Landscape Supply, we make ordering landscaping products easy. Here's how to order mulch for delivery:

1. Visit our mulch page online
2. Enter your zip code in the big green box and hit submit. This will show you the pricing for your area.
3. Select the mulch you want by using the drop down menu. Click the "Add to Cart" button. Repeat as needed to add other types of mulch.
4. When you are ready to checkout click the "Proceed to Checkout" button on the bottom right of the screen.
5. If you are a new customer fill out the form to create an account. This will include information about your address for delivery. then click the brown "Register" button on the bottom of the form.
6. Pay for your order.

Delivery Options:

Saunders Landscape Supply generally delivers the same day you place your order. However, if we receive your order after noon, we typically deliver the next business day. You can opt to receive the order on a specific day. We deliver all landscaping supplies to your driveway. We will deliver whether you are home or not. There is no need to take off from work for delivery.

Other Services

Saunders Landscape Supply offers a range of landscaping services. In addition to our mulch delivery services, we deliver top soil, gravel and stone, sand, wood chips, and even firewood.

For faster service and special pricing call us directly:

In Maryland: Phone (301) 461-5687

In Northern Virginia: Phone (703) 764-4831

We sell and deliver quality, high-grade landscaping products for projects just like yours. Reach out to us with questions as we are happy to answer questions or provide information to all of our customers.

Wet firewood and seasoned firewood are commonly mistaken for one another. We hope to clear up any misunderstandings folks may have when it comes to these two different stages of wood.

Any firewood that contains a 25% moisture rating or above (measured with a moisture meter), is considered to be wet firewood. When wood is first cut down from a tree, it can contain up to 80% of moisture content. Due to the high moisture when first cut, firewood must be seasoned, left outside to dry for months to properly dry. Check out some tips to properly store wet firewood.

Seasoned firewood will register with a moisture rating at or below 20%. Climate will dictate how long cut wood will take to season. When your firewood reaches the seasoned status, it is now ready to burn!

Firewood's moisture rating dictates whether or not it is considered to be wet or seasoned firewood. Once the firewood has graduated to seasoned, it's time to put it to use!

Contact us today to receive free delivery straight to your door with all firewood orders.

You asked and Saunders Landscape Supply answered, We now have Cedar mulch available throughout Virginia with our signature free delivery. Starting at $36.99 per yard while supplies last. Schedule your delivery today»

The versatility of Wood Chips! Not only are they in abundant supply; from road crews, electric companies, and tree service companies; but it’s easy and tempting to use them everywhere. Here are the top 7 places we’ve see them used.  

1.  Mulch - Old, but classic. Wood chips accomplish two important goals for your plants: they help them retain water and stay warm. In addition, they suppress the growth of weeds in garden beds, making it easier for you to maintain them over time. Spread a layer of wood chips over the garden in fall to protect your plants from freezing temperatures and snow, and repeat in the spring to get it looking clean, sharp, and beautiful,. Be aware that you may need to add nitrogen fertilizer to supply the needs of your plants, and make sure to churn up or remove old mulch before remulching so your plants aren't buried.
2.  Play area surface - Wood chips help cushion falls and provide a safe, nonslip surface for kids and the young at heart. Create a designated play area in your yard with wood chips, swings, and other supplies -- but make sure you inspect it regularly and keep it in good condition to reduce the risk of injuries!
3. Composting material - Wood chips contain a great deal of carbon, and they're great for building up the soil. Just by using them as mulch, you'll be improving the condition of your soil, but you can also add them to your compost as a carbon or "brown" layer. They'll break down and enrich the dirt, making it that much more nutritious for the plants you spread it on.
4. Fuel - Like other wood products, wood chips can make great fuel, and they're especially useful for fire starter and small, controlled fires. They're also ideal for biomass reactors, which can be used to power engines in addition to providing heat.
5. Walkways - Another classic use of woodchips: as a walkway substrate. They'll even out the ground and provide weed suppression in the garden and lawn areas. Before you create a wood chip walkway, lay down a weed barrier to increase its lifetime. Be sure to remove any large debris regularly so it won't trip people.
6. Décor - If you're working with dried or artificial flowers, try using wood chips in the vase to stabilize them and hold them upright. Wood chips are also used in the construction of furniture and works of art, where their variable color, shape, and pattern can create a great deal of visual interest.
7. Erosion control - While wood chips are a temporary fix, they can address an area of the yard where erosion is occurring while you develop a long term plan. Use them to create a barrier to prevent soil loss, especially during heavy rains or melting.  

                          Winterize for a healthier Spring!

When the garden season winds down, the average homeowner is heading for the hammock. But experienced  gardeners know that fall is no time to be lazing. It's the most important season of the year for improving your soil. What should you be adding to your soil this fall? Three things: compost, raw organic matter, and organic nutrients = Organic Topsoil

• As you remove spent crops from the vegetable garden, use a garden fork to loosen the soil, and mix in a 3" to 4" layer of Organic Topsoil. While soil temperatures are still warm, the nutrients and organic matter will stimulate microbes and other beneficial organisms. Tired, end-of-season soil will be refreshed and renewed when spring comes around.
• Flower gardens also need compost. As you begin cutting back and cleaning up your perennial beds, keep a good supply of compost or Organic Topoil on hand. Dig in some compost wherever you've pulled out annuals and whenever you're planting bulbs. Pile on a good 2" to 3" layer around the base of established perennials and shrubs (keeping it back an inch or so from the stems).
• Planting new shrubs, trees or other landscape plants? Opinions vary, but we recommend mixing a few shovels of organic topsoil with the soil that goes back into the planting hole.
• Ideally, early fall is the best time to apply a top dressing to your lawn since you’ll want to give your grass time to grow through 3-4 more mowings before severe heat or cold, especially if you are overseeding. This can be done all at once, or in stages. We know a few meticulous gardeners who top-dress in small patches as they find them, whereas we personally prefer to knock it out in an autumn marathon.

Improving the soil around your home makes a huge difference in its ability to retain water, support healthy plant growth, and help your plants fend off diseases, pests and other stresses. Whether you're new, or a seasoned pro, building better soil is the single most important thing you can do to improve your growing success. And fall is the best time to do it!  

 

Mulch is the organic material -- typically shredded or chipped wood or bark, cocoa shells, pine needles or grass clippings -- used in garden and landscape beds. Once your garden bed is prepared and the plants are placed, two to three inches of mulch layered on top of the soil and around plants minimizes weed growth, insulates the soil from heat and cold, and maintains moisture. In choosing which kind mulch to use, consider how often you want to replenish the mulch, the presence of insects in your garden, your budget, soil quality and environmental conditions such as rainfall levels – Hurricane Joaquin.

Like other mulches, cedar mulch serves various purposes in the garden. It suppresses weeds, neatens the appearance of landscape beds, conserves water and diminishes soil erosion. Cedar mulch comes from the bark of the cedar tree, an evergreen that grows abundantly in the Southern regions of the country – zones 7 through 9. In mulch form, Cedar mulch is best used in beds that contain larger plants, bushes and trees due to its heavy, denser nature. Unlike many other types of mulch, cedar mulch decomposes slowly, taking years to break down, so it needs to be replenished less frequently. The resins in cedar mulch emit a pleasant scent. Anyone who has a cedar closet or dresser drawers lined with cedar knows that cedar has pesticide properties and may keep certain types of insects away from plants.

Firewood Tips: 

For wood-burning fireplace and stove owners, splitting and stacking wood is an important skill to know. Whether it’s your first time stacking a woodpile or you just want a refresher course on proper splitting technique, we've got a number of helpful tips on the best way to stock winter wood.

Are You Cutting Wood From a Fallen Tree?
If you’re starting your wood pile right from the source – a fallen tree – there are a few things to keep in mind when doing the initial cutting. First, the timing: cut your firewood at least six months ahead of when you plan on burning it. The ideal time to cut firewood is in the late winter and early spring months. This allows for the maximum drying time. 

Next, cut the ends of the logs as flat and square as possible so that they can stand sturdily for splitting.  If the wood has branches, cut toward the opposite direction they are pointing. Remember, the shorter the log, the easier it will split. Look for hairline cracks on the log and direct the swing of your axe to strike these cracks. This will reduce the splitting effort. Try to avoid cutting through knots – knots and branches change the direction of the wood grain in the log and make splitting more difficult. Try to align the strike of the axe so it does not split through the knot.

 

As you can see, quality firewood is aged wood and there are choices depending on what you want. If you are still wondering what type is best for you, just contact us. We will help you find the best firewood for your home, and we even deliver free!

If you're looking for a way to spruce up your yard's landscaping design while servicing the health of your plants and shrubbery, mulch may be the option for you. Available in a plethora of colors and materials, mulch will add the perfect stylistic flair to any landscaping scheme.

What is mulch?
Mulch is a material that is used to conserve moisture and preserve the health of soil. In a way, mulch serves as a protective blanket in many garden landscaping designs; when applied in layers, mulch is able to help soil both maintain heat and keep its moisture, as well as prevent the growth of weeds. This makes it a versatile garden material during the beginning of growing season through the heat of the summer months. Mulch is also favored because of its relatively low cost, and aesthetic value.

What is mulch made of?
Mulch is comprised of many different materials, but its composition can generally be broken down into two categories: organic and inorganic. Organic mulch is made up of naturally decomposing materials, such as pine straw, grass, shredded bark and compost. Inorganic mulch, however, is made of materials that don't break down, such as stones, weed fabric, and geotextile mats.

How much does mulch cost?
Mulch is one of the relatively inexpensive landscaping supplies available, averaging about $30 per cubic yard. Many companies give away low grade mulch for free, charging only a small delivery fee.

Why use mulch?
Mulch is one of the most versatile gardening materials available, with almost too many benefits to name. Firstly, mulch's protective layer makes it difficult for weeds to grow, and make weed pulling an easy task for any gardener or landscaper. Secondly, mulch is extremely insulating, so it protects soil from extreme temperature changes that occur in the early spring and late summer. Mulch is also beneficial in extreme weather scenarios such as rain and flooding, as it prevents erosion and runoff from occurring. Additionally, mulch is great for preventing the formation and proliferation of plant diseases.

How do I use mulch?
To use mulch in your garden landscaping design, it is recommended that you plant in the beginning of growing season. When applying, apply a layer of 2-3 inches in thickness, 4 inch maximum if you're dealing with thin soil such as sand. After application, water the mulch, helping to anchor it and preventing the mulch from absorbing moisture from the soil.

Now there's not mulch left to do, except to get out there and get planting!

If you're one of the 49% of Americans who have gardened within the past year, it is easy to understand how reaping what you sow can save you money in the long term. For every $70 invested in garden landscaping, a homeowner can expect to receive approximately $530 in produce per given season.

Looking for more ways to cultivate your garden landscaping on a budget? Here are 5 garden landscaping ideas that will help save you money this year:

1. Mulch - Mulch is an aesthetically pleasing and low-cost way to make your garden both attractive and healthy. Many landscape services deliver mulch directly to your door for little cost, save a delivery fee. Mulch is used to help keep soil healthy and moist during the hotter seasons, as well as a way for the soil to retain heat. Because of this, it should typically be applied during the late spring/early summer growing seasons. Many landscape supplies companies offer colored mulch, which can provide artistic flair to any landscaping design scheme or garden.


2. Trimming and Weeding - The quickest and cheapest way to make the most of your landscaping designs is by practicing regular lawn maintenance. This means pulling weeds from your garden, cutting the grass, and trimming trees and bushes that have overgrown. Arborists recommend trimming your trees and hedges at least once a year during the dormant seasons.


3. The Small Touches Count - Ever heard the phrase 'the beauty is in the details'? Well, the same goes for your lawn. To make inexpensive, but beautiful aesthetic touches, try adding small features such as decorative stones, sand, and mulch.


4. Think Local - Buying local plants and shrubbery is both cost effective and good for the environment, as these plants are inherently native and will take less water and effort to sustain and flourish.


5. Call on the Experts - While there are many do-it-yourself tactics that can be employed by a home landscaper and gardener, sometimes it's best to leave it to the professionals. Garden landscaping services and suppliers are experts in the field. Not only will they help you find the best landscaping design ideas for your budget, but they have the know-how to make your yard look like the oasis you always dreamed it would be.

There are more than 400,000 U.S. landscaping companies, and some produce so many wood chips that they're literally giving mulch away for free. Other landscaping services will offer to dump mulch at your house for a small delivery fee. If you're one of the 49% of Americans who will garden this summer, that might seem like a tempting offer.

And while free mulch might be appropriate for covering dirt trails, you'll want to keep it far away from your garden, nursery, or other landscaping features. That's because free mulch contains mostly ground up food and leaves. Not only that, but some gardeners find trash, metal, and other debris in free mulch. That also makes it a dangerous choice for playgrounds or other areas where children play.

As that mulch breaks down, depending on its composition, it can suck up nitrogen from prized planting areas. If you've put time and love into your garden already, then it's worth investing in premium mulch. Plus, unlike bulk wood chips dumped out of a truck, premium colored mulch adds to the aesthetic value of your garden, too.

Popular premium and colored mulch types include:

• Hardwood Mulch

• Red, black, and brown mulch

• Playground carpet mulch

• Leaf Mulch

Premium Hardwood Mulch: Unlike bulk mulch, hardwood bark mulch is made entirely from shredded tree bark. That means it retains moisture for your plants and even stops weed growth. This mulch is typically brown in color and either double or triple shredded.

Colored Mulch: Colored mulch is similar to hardwood mulch and has many of the same benefits, but enhanced with colors to complement various garden and landscaping designs. Colored mulch delivered in the early spring can help regulate soil temperature come summertime. 

Playground Carpet Mulch: For when you need to protect kids instead of plants. Carpet mulch is made from finely shredded wood chips and offers a soft (and clean) landing for kids taking a tumble off the swing set.

Leaf Mulch: Leaf mulch does wonders for garden soil. As it decomposes it adds nutrients to the soil, and even better, it attracts earthworms.

Some landscaping companies might make you think they're doing you a favor by dropping off free mulch, and you might get lucky with a quality batch. Unfortunately, they're often just dumping trash on unsuspecting gardeners.

It's spring -- and that means that it is time to start planting and caring for your garden, if you haven't already. Now that it's the season for blooms and flowers, many Americans are asking how they can make their garden stand out, and how they can do something markedly different from last year. Here are a few ideas:

Don't Rely On Flowers For Color
When it comes down to it, many flowers bloom for just a few weeks -- or about two months, if you're lucky. Then all that's left until next season are the plants' leaves, which may not be all that remarkable. After all, very few gardeners choose flowers for their leaves. Out of the 164 million Americans (49%) who have gardened in the past year, more and more are advocating doing just that. More gardeners are selecting green leaves with yellow or white patterns, or even opting for relatively rare plants with purple, burgundy, and black leaves. That way, gardeners can rely on some color for the entire season. Others are adding a bit of variety and some pops of color with colored mulch, landscaping sand, landscaping rocks, decorative stones, and other oddities.

Don't Take No For An Answer
Another way that people are departing from the norm is changing what exactly the term "garden" means. In the past, most people used the word garden to refer to a flower bed or a contained area (whether that area contained flowers, plants, or produce). Now, gardens may encompass the entire lawn -- or, on the opposite side of the spectrum, miniature gardens may be contained in pots and planters. And some neighbors are banding together to ask property management companies or counties to lift ordinances that would prevent them from planting a lawn of sustainable plants or wildflowers. With an increasing interest and awareness of green initiatives, the case for these wildflower lawns -- i.e., lawns that use considerably less water than traditional grass -- is even stronger.

Whether you go it alone or work with one of the 888,426 U.S. men and women working in the landscaping industry, mix things up this year with colorful leaves, colored mulch, and decorative stones -- and, if you have your heart set on a sustainable plant-covered lawn, don't take "no" for an answer. See if there is anything you can do or say about that local ordinance.

With the right landscaping, Americans may never have to mow their grass again. Of course, that means considerably less time devoted to sweaty manual labor -- and it means less fertilizer, less water, and a vastly more sustainable lawn. What's the secret? There are several low maintenance grass alternatives. Here are just a few:

If You Want Something That's Still Green...

If you want lawn cover that's still green, moss is a surprisingly low-maintenance option -- and one that resembles grass from a bit of a distance. "Moss needs no fertilizer and very little water once it's established," Houzz explains. What's more, moss only grows up to a certain point. In other words, it never grows high enough to justify mowing. There is one downside: Moss doesn't necessarily hold up well if people or pets tramp back and forth on it all day long.

For A Green And Hardy Option...

For a green and hardy option, choose clover. Clover is tough. Pets, kids, and neighbors can go ahead and walk on top of it, run through it, and otherwise do what they will. And it should be okay. It doesn't require any special fertilizer and regular ol' dirt or decorative topsoil will suit clover patches just fine. Use top soil with a pH of five to eight for optimal growth. It is best to plant clover lawns during early spring gardening or early spring landscaping; the plant flourishes when planted in relatively cool temperatures with consistently moist soil until it is established.

Add A Bit Of Color

If color is important to your ground cover and landscaping designs, select sustainable flowers or flowering greens. Blue Star Creeper, for instance, produces tons of small, blue flowers. They're pleasing to look at, and they're sturdy and low maintenance as well.

The 888,426 U.S. men and women working for the 401,473 landscaping companies have noticed a strong trend: regular gardeners are 25% more likely to purchase eco-friendly decorative topsoil, plants, and ground cover. Sustainable grass alternatives are the perfect way to conserve water, fertilizer, or simply spend less time mowing the grass.

Landscaping is becoming one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, employing approximately 888,426 people and generating $74 billion of revenue. Many homeowners are interested in landscaping their yards, but may not have the budget necessary to hire a professional. Fortunately, there are many garden landscaping ideas homeowners can use to spruce up their yards on a budget.

One of the easiest things to do to make a yard look better is to designate flower beds. This is even simpler if the flower beds are already installed, and simply need some tidying up. A nice edge between the flower beds and the grass is easy to create, and will make the yard look nicely-maintained almost immediately. Adding or updating the mulch in the flower beds serves many purposes. Mulch will create a uniform look between beds, as well as fertilizing the soil, retaining soil moisture, regulating soil temperature, and preventing the growth of weeds.

With a little more work, a homeowner can order decorative stones or gravel and use them to create pathways, sidewalks, and other pieces of visual interest. Walking paths can be used to emphasize the style of the garden or yard. A whimsical cottage-type garden will look best with a curvy, winding path, while a formal estate-type yard will benefit from straight lines and well-maintained bricks.

Lastly, a homeowner should consider the types of plants they wish to include in their yard or garden. Perennials tend to be lower-maintenance, but annuals are better for homeowners who may want to frequently change the garden's appearance. Trees and shrubs add variety, but can be difficult to remove. Homeowners should plan their garden around their personality, allowing fickle homeowners to change their gardens with ease, and trees and shrubs to stand tall in the garden of someone who dislikes change.

Whether you are installing a new patio, planting a beautiful flower garden, or simply placing some mulch at the roots of your favorite tree, landscaping can be a relaxing way to bring the beauty of nature to your home.

Gardening has always been a popular way to spend time. With as many as 164 million people gardening in the United States in the past 12 months, garden landscaping supplies are in high demand. The type of supplies you will need for your garden depends on what you would like to accomplish in your gardening endeavors.

Organic compost and mulch can benefit produce gardens, flower beds, and even trees. Usually used at the beginning of the season to warm soil, mulch can also be used to conserve moisture and preserve the health of the soil. When added to the soil, compost is a great fertilizer, soil conditioner, and a natural pesticide.

Other garden landscaping supplies you may need are rocks and gravel. Gravel can be purchased in a wide variety of colors and types, allowing gardeners to choose exactly the right type for their needs. In addition to being a great material for paths and walkways, gravel can also be used to build a durable driveway. With proper maintenance, gravel driveways can last a lifetime. If gravel pathways don't suit your taste, you can use brick, large stones, or sand to complete your garden.

Of course, garden landscaping supplies aren't limited to just plant food and rocks. Seasoned firewood for an outdoor fireplace, strings of lights, and outdoor flags can all add personality to your garden. You might also consider adding a small pond, bird bath, or fountain to attract local wildlife. A gazing ball, memorial stone, or comfortable bench will all add visual interest to your garden.

With the right supplies, you can turn your small flower bed garden or window box to a beautiful retreat right in your yard. Even vegetable gardens can be aesthetically pleasing with the right landscaping. No matter how big or small your garden project, you will be able to find the right supplies to make your garden shine.

 

We have probably all seen the people wanting to sell firewood. There are ads listed on the Internet, and sometimes people with signs in their yards with firewood for sale. It might sound like a good idea and might seem like you could save some money purchasing that firewood. But, are you getting quality firewood?

You might be, and you might not be. So, we thought it would be a good time to talk about what is quality firewood and what isn't.

Oak: Oak is one of the best types of firewood, if it's dried properly. When you burn dried oak in your home this winter, it will give you a hot fire that burns slowly. They key is that the oak needs to be aged in a dry area for at least a year. If you are purchasing oak from someone, ask them how long that wood has been drying and where it's been drying.

Birch: Birch will give you a hot fire in your home this winter. However, it will burn faster than Oak, so you will need more firewood if you rely on Birch. On the other hand, Birch is usually less expensive than Oak.

Pine: Pine is easy to find and will dry, or season, faster than Oak or Birch. It's easy to start in your fireplace or wood stove, but it will burn fast and doesn't produce a hot fire. If you use Pine, be careful of sap pockets which can ignite in a chimney and cause a house fire.

Elm: Elm trees are found in most areas of the United States and might be the wood you find a homeowner selling. This is because Elm trees get Dutch Elm Disease and have to be cut down. This wood will provide medium heat, but if you are going to split it yourself, you might find the task difficult.

As you can see, quality firewood is aged wood and there are choices depending on what you want. If you are still wondering what type is best for you, just contact us. We will help you find the best firewood for your home, and we even deliver free!

With cold winter weather making its way across the country, you've probably already started working on ways to keep your home nice and warm throughout the rest of the season. Whether you use a woodburning stove to heat your home or enjoy sitting in front of a warm fireplace, firewood is an essential item to keep stocked over the winter.

Employing nearly 888,426 people in 401,473 businesses across the United States, the landscaping industry is a major supplier of high quality firewood during the fall and winter seasons. Some people, however, prefer to cut, store and season their own firewood. Supplying your own firewood isn't as simple as cutting logs and throwing them in a pile, and many people end up with wet or unusable firewood when the time comes to use it. If you like to collect your own firewood, keep the following tips in mind to ensure you have usable wood for your fireplace this winter:

Here's some tips for ensure your firewood is ready come winter.

• Test for Dryness
  Wet firewood is no good for starting a fire. These logs are harder to light and won't burn as well as pieces that have been properly seasoned. The best way to season firewood is to leave it out in the sun to dry out, although this process can take quite a bit of time. Since different types of wood dry at different rates, it is important to know how to test the dryness of the firewood. One way to do this is by splitting a piece in half. If the exposed inner surface is damp, the wood needs more time to dry out. You can also try banging two pieces together -- dry wood sounds hollow, while wet pieces sound dull. As a last resort, you can always try to light the wood on fire. If it is refusing to catch, it is likely that the wood is still too damp.
• Move to Winter Storage
  It is best to store wood outside during the summer to allow the sun to dry out the chopped pieces. Come fall, however, exposure to the elements becomes an issue. Rain and snow can ruin the long drying process that took all summer to complete in just a matter of minutes. To avoid this, move the wood into a sheltered storage space when the cold weather hits to keep it safe and dry from the elements. Storing a small pile of wood in the house is okay, but most should be kept in an outside storage unit to avoid the growth of mold in the home.
  
  Nothing beats sitting in front of a nice, warm fireplace or woodburning stove when the temperature plummets. In order to be able to do this, however, you need a steady supply of firewood to last the season. If you want to take the project on by yourself instead of getting wood from a landscaping supplies store, keep the above advice in mind to ensure you're prepared as soon as the cold weather hits.

With cold winter weather making its way across the country, you've probably already started working on ways to keep your home nice and warm throughout the rest of the season. Whether you use a woodburning stove to heat your home or enjoy sitting in front of a warm fireplace, firewood is an essential item to keep stocked over the winter.

Employing nearly 888,426 people in 401,473 businesses across the United States, the landscaping industry is a major supplier of high quality firewood during the fall and winter seasons. Some people, however, prefer to cut, store and season their own firewood. Supplying your own firewood isn't as simple as cutting logs and throwing them in a pile, and many people end up with wet or unusable firewood when the time comes to use it. If you like to collect your own firewood, keep the following tips in mind to ensure you have usable wood for your fireplace this winter:

Test for Dryness
Wet firewood is no good for starting a fire. These logs are harder to light and won't burn as well as pieces that have been properly seasoned. The best way to season firewood is to leave it out in the sun to dry out, although this process can take quite a bit of time. Since different types of wood dry at different rates, it is important to know how to test the dryness of the firewood. One way to do this is by splitting a piece in half. If the exposed inner surface is damp, the wood needs more time to dry out. You can also try banging two pieces together -- dry wood sounds hollow, while wet pieces sound dull. As a last resort, you can always try to light the wood on fire. If it is refusing to catch, it is likely that the wood is still too damp.

Move to Winter Storage
It is best to store wood outside during the summer to allow the sun to dry out the chopped pieces. Come fall, however, exposure to the elements becomes an issue. Rain and snow can ruin the long drying process that took all summer to complete in just a matter of minutes. To avoid this, move the wood into a sheltered storage space when the cold weather hits to keep it safe and dry from the elements. Storing a small pile of wood in the house is okay, but most should be kept in an outside storage unit to avoid the growth of mold in the home.

Nothing beats sitting in front of a nice, warm fireplace or woodburning stove when the temperature plummets. In order to be able to do this, however, you need a steady supply of firewood to last the season. If you want to take the project on by yourself instead of getting wood from a landscaping supplies store, keep the above advice in mind to ensure you're prepared as soon as the cold weather hits.

Staying warm in the fall and winter can be accomplished in a number of ways. For instance, you could wear warm clothing throughout the house or use a thick blanket, but this is not always enough for the extremely cold days and nights. Plenty of homeowners resort to using their heater to stay warm, which can be quite inefficient because it warms up the entire airspace.

An alternative to this heating method is using firewood, which you should take into consideration.

Easy to Store in a Garage or Shed

It is imperative to store firewood properly, otherwise you will not have firewood last an entire season. Fortunately, the requirements are simple, keep it at least half a foot off the ground and either in a secured shed or garage. Doing this prevents your firewood from being invaded by pests and moisture.

An Inexpensive Option

Using the heater on a regular basis can add up in costs quickly, which raises your overall monthly expenses. Although you may feel the need to use the heater to stay warm, you can use firewood to produce heat, which makes being around the fireplace enticing due to how warm it can become.

Enjoy the Added Ambiance

In the middle of a cold winter night, it is hard to beat having a warm glass of hot chocolate or apple cider while relaxing with family or friends near a warm and toasty fireplace. The added ambiance from the glowing fireplace does so much more than just the warmth that a heater can provide.

Although getting a cord or two of firewood can seem a little daunting, making enough storage space gives you a great opportunity to land a good deal on firewood to keep warm in the cold.

Please contact us to discuss your options to get firewood delivered for free to your home.Staying warm in the fall and winter can be accomplished in a number of ways. For instance, you could wear warm clothing throughout the house or use a thick blanket, but this is not always enough for the extremely cold days and nights. Plenty of homeowners resort to using their heater to stay warm, which can be quite inefficient because it warms up the entire airspace.

If you go to a garden store, you will see there are many types of mulch. We know you want the best mulch for your landscape for fall and winter. So, we we thought we would help you out by talking about each type so you can make the best decision for your landscape.

1. Shredded bark: This is probably the least expensive type of mulch. It is usually just shredded cedar trees mixed with other types of trees. This mulch will decompose slowly, so if you want mulch that will last longer than other types, this is the type to use. However, it is shredded trees, so walking on it can give you splinters. You might need to add some nitrogen to your soil since this mulch can use the nitrogen as it decomposes.

2. Straw: Straw is an easy mulch to use and it will decompose faster than the shredded bark. It's inexpensive, but might blow away easier than other mulches. Before you use straw, be sure it does not contain weed seeds. For fall, the straw provides a golden color which can enhance your landscape.

3. Pine Needles: Pine needles are smaller than straw or shredded bark mulch. They tend to stay in place better than straw. Pine needles are slow to decompose, just as shredded bark. If you have plants that love soil with high acidity, then pine needles are great as a mulch since they increase soil acidity.

4. Bark Nuggets: This type of mulch is larger in size than the previous 3 and is best for flat surfaces. Due to size, bark nuggets are the slowest to decompose, so they will last the longest in your landscaping.

Which mulch is best for you? It all depends on the size you want and if you have a slope or flat surface. If you have more questions, or are ready to have a bulk order delivered, please contact us and let us help.

While homeowners have the freedom to choose their own landscape, there are some types of landscape that benefit some people more than others, and you need to decide what you want to meet your needs.

If you are looking for low maintenance, getting gravel delivered to your property is an excellent decision because it is a groundcover that can be used in almost any situation.

No Need to Worry About the Rain

When rain pours, you do not have to be concerned with gravel drifting away with rainy streams. Due to the weight of gravel as a landscaping material, it will stay in place through strong storms, unlike some other options that you continuously need to be looking over to keep it protected.

Reduced Risk of Mold

Depending on how much moisture you get around your property, you may be at great risk for mold. Flat properties fare well with gravel because it does extremely well with water pools, which can take a while to evaporate after a heavy rainstorm. Additionally, inorganic groundcover is naturally resistant to mold, so while it can still form, the chances of it happening are a lot slimmer than organic groundcover.

Can Be Reused

It is hard to get your hands on organic landscape material that can be reused, and this is what makes gravel an excellent choice. Although it may not be organic, it is something you can use multiple times, and it is especially useful for homeowners that like to grow potted plants as the water drainage is amazing.

Contact us for more information about getting gravel for use on your property.

What are your favorite smells of fall and winter? Do you love the spicy smell of cinnamon, the smell of a furnace when it first comes on, the rich smell of fall candles, or the sharp smell of pine sap after you have held a pine cone? 

One of our favorite smells of fall and winter is the smell of a stack of firewood brought in from the cold. As the wood warms, the subtle odors of the trees, such as oak, start to warm the room. 

Then as you burn the firewood, there is the smell of the trees mixing with a subtle smoky smell. It isn't a strong smell, but a smell that reminds us of roasting marshmallows over a summer campfire.

It's also a smell that reminds us of last winter when we spent time in front of the fireplace just relaxing and enjoying a glass of our favorite wine.

Are you ready to enjoy the smells of fall and winter, including the smell of wood burning in your fireplace or wood stove? Have you looked at your stack of firewood lately to see if you have enough for the winter weather that is coming soon? Have you inspected your stack of firewood to be sure it is dry wood so it burns efficiently?

If your answers to those questions means you need more firewood and you need quality firewood, then now is a great time to act. Just contact us and we will be happy to deliver firewood for your winter needs so you too can enjoy the smells of fall and winter as we will.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between topsoil and compost and what is best for your project? We thought it might be a good time to talk about the difference so you can decide what you need.

Topsoil is the first layer of ground in your landscape. However, topsoil is also a product you can purchase. It is a mixture of mineral grains, organic matter, water and air. That mixture is designed to provide nutrients to plants and help hold water so you don't have areas of erosion in your landscape.

Compost is made of decaying plant and animal matter, so it is organic matter. It doesn't have the same mixture as topsoil, so it has a different function. Compost is designed to provide nutrients to the topsoil and all the layers of soil in your landscape.

Every landscape can use an infusion of good topsoil and compost. We recommend you contact us for help on how much you need. Then after both the topsoil and compost are delivered, it's an easy process. Put a mixture of topsoil and compost in garden beds and rake the mixture into the existing soil. Then add a layer of mulch.

For your lawn, sprinkle a coating of the mixture and then water it. You can even mix grass seeds with this and overseed your lawn at the same time.

The fall and winter moisture will distribute the nutrients to plant roots and throughout the soil layers. Then in the spring and summer you will see the results of plants having that food they need.