Mulching in Spring Hill and Hudson, FL

Why mulch matters in Florida

Mulch does more than look good. A layer over the soil holds in moisture so beds need less water, keeps the roots cooler in the summer sun, slows down weeds and stops the rain from splashing sand onto the house and the plants. As it breaks down, it feeds the soil underneath.

Florida’s heat and rain break mulch down faster than in most places, and the sun fades the color. Most beds need a fresh layer about once a year to keep doing their job and looking good.

How we mulch a bed

The bed gets cleaned out first: weeds pulled, leaves and old clippings raked out and the edges cut back in so the line between the bed and the lawn is clean. Then the new mulch goes down evenly, about 2 to 3 inches deep, which is the depth the University of Florida’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping program suggests.

Mulch is kept a few inches back from tree trunks and the base of shrubs. Piling it up against the bark, the way you sometimes see trees mulched like a volcano, keeps the bark wet and invites rot and insects.

Picking a mulch

Red mulch is what you see in a lot of our photos. It stays bright against green grass. Brown mulch and pine straw are softer and more natural. Whatever color you pick, the depth and the clean edges are what make the bed look finished.

If a bed sits right against the driveway or on a slope where mulch keeps washing out, rock may be the better choice there. Many yards use mulch in the planting beds and rock along the edges.