Finding the Right Mulch Near Me
Things You Should Know
Mulch has been called the gardener’s and landscaper’s friend—and for good reason. It provides a flourish to gardens and yards in Joliet, Shorewood, Plainfield or Lemont (IL), and the benefits go well beyond beauty.
In addition to being easy to add and providing a well-manicured look, a good-quality mulch:
discourages weed growth by keeping light from reaching the soil surface.
maintains soil moisture by decreasing water loss from the soil surface.
moderates soil temperatures by keeping them warmer on cold nights and cooler on hot days.
protects plants from the cycle of freezing and thawing by keeping underlying soil and roots warm during winter (it also warms the soil in spring, which allows planting before the soil would normally be ready).
reduces soil erosion.
prevents soil from splashing onto leaves, which can disease them.
adds nutrients to the soil and makes soil micronutrients more readily available.
In this discussion, we’ll spread mental mulch that enhances knowledge of:
the main types for gardens and landscapes
the coloring of mulch
the advantages and disadvantages of mulch vs. stone
Types of Mulch in Bulk Near Me
There are three types of mulch: brush mulch, shredded mulch and bark nugget mulch.
Brush mulch is a product of land-clearing efforts in which both trees and vegetation make up the mulch. It is a poor-quality mulch when compared with other options.
Shredded mulch can be made from logs (white wood), bark and even recycled wooden pallets. Mulch made from tree branches (white wood) tends to gray out sooner than products that include tree bark or combinations of white wood and bark.
Shredded mulch can be dyed to give you the ideal complementary color as well. It also can be double- or triple-processed to produce a finely textured shred. Triple-shredded mulch is often used in annual or perennial gardens because it allows you to step into and out of the garden with comfort and ease and it gives your beds a finely manicured look.
Premium shredded mulches are made from only the bark of a tree, as tree bark shreds evenly and holds its natural color the longest.
Bark nugget mulch is the chunky outer layer of the tree. It is a long-lasting mulch that comes in various sizes.
With mulch you also should get what you pay for: A cubic yard should equal a cubic yard. With some projects, a contractor or supplier might deliver and apply six cubic yards presented as 10. On average, one cubic yard of mulch will cover 100 square feet about 2″ deep.
Mulch for Sale Near Me: Colors
The availability of mulch in different colors allows it to suit your garden or landscaping scheme or simply your personal preference. The dyes used for today’s color varieties such as black mulch, red mulch and brown mulch are safe and eco-friendly as well. Dyed mulches also often hold their color longer than natural mulches do.
Most dye used to color bark and hardwood mulch is either carbon-based or iron oxide–based. Carbon-based dyes are formed from ground bark, twigs and leaves of certain plants or other natural substances. They might also include ingredients such as curry powder, green tea or cayenne pepper for an extra touch of color and warmth.
Mulches colored with carbon-based dye often have an earth tone that blends well with light-colored mulches such as red cedar mulch or white cypress mulch. However, carbon-based dye also can make mulch turn dark brown over time, so using carbon-based dyes on darker mulch is often a common practice.
Iron oxide–based dye is the more common of the two types. Iron oxide is simply a compound of iron and oxygen. As the compound oxidizes, iron is released into the soil without being toxic to it. Found in mineral deposits throughout nature, iron oxide has been used to dye fabrics red or brown since ancient times. When applied to wood mulch, it is milder than carbon-based dye, and it is permanent (i.e. it does not alter in shades).
The dyed mulch sold by Tim Wallace Landscape Supply utilizes Colorbiotics® colorant, which is ranked as toxicity Category IV, the lowest and safest level. That means it is less toxic than table salt. The ingredients are naturally sourced and specially formulated to protect people, plants, pets and the planet. Non-toxic, non-reactive, non-flammable and environmentally friendly, Colorbiotics colorant would be safer to eat than the mulch itself.
When varieties such as red mulch, black mulch and brown mulch are processed, they usually go through the following steps before arriving at Tim Wallace Landscape Supply:
- The wood is brought to a processing facility and passed through tub grinders to create bare mulch or smaller wood fibers.
- The mulch enters a coloring system, where a highly concentrated, eco-friendly colorant is mixed with water and applied to the ground wood.
- The colorant fully covers the wood to ensure dye adherence and UV protection.
- The mulch is bagged or transported in bulk to the supply yard.
At Tim Wallace Landscape Supply, we offer 14 types of mulch in bulk near you. We also can help you calculate how much you’ll need for your application plus have your mulch delivered to you if you prefer. We offer certain varieties in bags as well.
Just a few of our mulches for Joliet, Shorewood, Plainfield or Lemont include:
Landscapers Mixed Hardwood (double-processed white wood and bark blend – our most economical)
Landscapers Mixed Hardwood Fines Hardwood (triple-processed white wood and bark blend – our most economical)
Jet Black (natural mixed hardwoods with Colorbiotics colorant – our darkest mulch)
Brite Gold (natural mixed hardwoods with Colorbiotics colorant – lighter-colored mulch)
Barn Yard Red (recycled wood with Colorbiotics colorant – red-colored mulch)
Walnut Brown (natural mixed hardwoods with Colorbiotics colorant)
Premium Double Processed Hardwood (double-ground deep-brown mulch – our most popular)
Other mulch varieties include Premium Black Oak and Premium Red Oak (triple-ground oak fines). Both of these mulches are naturally deep brown in color, with the Red Oak presenting a slight auburn tint. We also stock two-year mulches: Southern Red Cypress and Western Red Cedar.
Delivered Near Me: Mulch vs. Stone
When you are considering whether to use mulch or stone for a landscape or garden, mulch will provide both advantages and disadvantages in comparison with stone.
Advantages of mulch over stone include:
lesser cost. Because mulch is usually less expensive than stone, it can be both affordable and attractive, especially if you need to cover a large area on a budget.
easier use and application. Mulch is light and easy to carry, move and spread. You can often cover a lot of area in a short time. The soil beneath it also is much easier to reach and cultivate when it’s time to apply a new layer of mulch.
soil nutrients and moisture retention. Mulch will support plant growth in ways that stone cannot. Stone beds do not offer access to the soil and moisture below. Mulch adds nutrients to the soil and makes soil micronutrients more readily available.
no additional weed barrier. Unlike for stone, landscaping fabric is not recommended for mulch beds. If your mulch layer is thick (3″-4″, though not always recommended), the mulch itself can block weeds’ access to sunlight, so they can’t reach the surface. At the same time, plant material can access the sun because it rests above the mulch bed. Water also reaches the ground through gaps in the mulch and keeps plants fed.
less heat. You’ve walked on pavement in bare feet at the height of summer before, right? Stone beds emit a similar amount of heat around plants. Darker stones will absorb it, and light stones will reflect it. Plants can be affected either way.
Disadvantages of mulch compared with stone include:
maintenance. Mulch is easy to work with, but it requires some upkeep. As it ages, it will require periodic replacement as well (often every two years). Stone also is easier to clean when other matter appears (e.g. grass clippings, leaves).
weight. An advantage of mulch can also sometimes be a disadvantage. Because it is light, it can be easily agitated and moved by strong winds and heavy rain.
deterioration. Because mulch is a natural product that degrades, it needs to be replaced every one or two years. If an application is left out for too long (e.g. three years or more), it can compact and start to push down dirt.
Your Local Resource for “Mulch Near Me”: Contact Us Today
Tim Wallace Landscape Supply provides you with the knowledge and materials for a rich, healthy, colorful lawn and garden. We’re always interested in learning about your project and answering any questions you might have. To find out more about our excellent choices of mulch for sale near Joliet, Shorewood, Plainfield or Lemont (IL) – including mulch delivered in bulk – just give us a call at (630) 759-5552!