Improve Your Curb Appeal By Installing High-Quality Bark Mulch
We offer mulch delivery and installation services
Mulch installation can provide several benefits for your garden beds such as giving it a nice uniform appearance, it can also help to reduce the amount of weeds, it can help retain moisture, and it helps insulate and protect your plants root systems during cold weather. Adding mulch to your garden beds is a key part of maintaining a healthy looking landscape.
There are several different types of mulch available at local landscape supply yards that we can use on your property for different aesthetic and functional properties. Typically we use hardwood bark mulch in a variety of grades including bark nuggets, shredded mulch, and bark fines. It's available in different colors as well including black, brown, or red.
Forest City Lawn Care is a landscaping contractor based out of Rockford, Illinois and serving Winnebago County and the surrounding area. We offer delivery and spreading of several different types of bark mulch for garden beds of all sizes. We can deliver and spread mulch throughout your garden beds, flower beds and landscape features for both residential and commercial clients.
What Are The Benefits Of Installing Bark Mulch In Your Garden Or Landscape Beds?
Here are three clear benefits of installing bark mulch in garden or landscape beds:
Moisture Retention: Bark mulch helps retain moisture in the soil, which can benefit the plants in your garden. According to a study by the University of Rhode Island, bark mulch can reduce soil moisture loss by up to 25%, which can help plants grow better and require less watering. This can be especially beneficial in areas with hot and dry climates or during periods of drought or when water restrictions might be in place.
Weed Suppression: Another benefit of bark mulch is that it can help suppress weed growth in your garden or landscape beds. When applied in a thick enough layer bark mulch can reduce weed growth by up to 90% for extended periods of time. This is because the mulch creates a physical barrier that prevents weed seeds from germinating and growing.
Soil Improvement: Bark mulch can also improve the quality of your soil over time. As the mulch breaks down, it adds organic matter to the soil, which can improve soil structure, and nutrient content. These can both benefit plant growth and health in the long term.
Preparing Your Garden And Landscape Beds For Mulch Installation
It's not really a good idea to just start spreading out mulch without some preparation to the garden and landscape beds.
For a proper, professional level installation you'll want to properly prepare the areas where the mulch will be installed. This can include removing any weeds in the beds, removal of any brush, undergrowth, or organic debris in the beds.
Landscape cloth can be laid down if necessary but with proper preparation it is seldom needed. Shrubs and bushes and any surrounding tree cover should be pruned and trimmed back. This will prevent organic debris from falling into your newly spread mulch.
We are happy to add garden and landscape bed preparation and clean up services into your estimate. It makes an amazing difference in how good the mulch will look after installation.
Edging Your Garden Beds Before Mulch Installation
Edging service is offered for all mulch jobs, and while this service is optional it is highly recommended. Edging a garden bed is done using a special machine or in many cases we just do it by hand. Edging the garden beds will create a more established edge to separate your mulched beds from other landscaped areas and provides a distinct line of separation between your landscaping features. This also helps keep the mulch in the bed and not strewn about your lawn or hardscaping. A defined edge can also keep the grass from growing into the garden beds as well.
Lastly, edging the beds will give your garden beds a nice, clean, and uniform look.
Mulch Delivery & Installation
Minimum Mulch Delivery/Spreading = 5 Yards. Mulch is sold and delivered by the yard. 1 yard of mulch spread about an 1″ thick should cover approximately 324 square feet. We can arrive to your location with up to 6-12 yards of mulch in one of our dumping trailers and orders larger than that will need to be delivered via a dump truck or we can do it in multiple trips.
*Each trip for mulch or other materials comes with an individual delivery charge.
Our mulching estimates include delivery costs, spreading (approx 1 man hr per yard), edging of your garden beds, and a clean up of the delivery area. You'll be really happy with the new, uniform appearance your garden beds will have!
What Does It Cost To Install Mulch?
Please Note: We have a minimum charge of $200 for bark mulch installation projects. This includes the mulch, delivery, and installation. For exact pricing please request an estimate.
Smaller Properties
Starting @ $500
This would be for a smaller property with a few garden beds that require mulch installation.
Large Properties
$1000 - $5000+
This would be for a large property like an estate or HOA with several large garden beds surrounding the property.
Mulch Installation Estimates Include
Please Note: We have a minimum charge of $200 for bark mulch installation projects.
- Initial clean up of garden beds and removal of debris. (we recommend trimming shrubs and bushes at this time)
- Delivery and installation of high quality bark mulch (approximately 2" to 3" deep).
- Clean up of the delivery area using blowers and rakes. We'll leave no trace!
Do You Have Questions About Bark Mulch Installation?
A depth of 2 to 4 inches of bark mulch is generally recommended for landscape beds, based on the recommendations of various horticulturists from leading universities. Any less and it won't last very long, any more and it could prevent your plants from getting water and oxygen to their roots.
Bark mulch typically lasts for one to two years, depending on the climate, soil type, and other factors. It is generally recommended to replace the mulch every one to two years or as needed.
It is not necessary to remove old bark mulch before adding new mulch. However, it is recommended to rake or agitate the old mulch to loosen it up and mix it with the soil to promote it's decomposition.
Bark mulch is generally safe for pets and children, but it is recommended to keep them away from the mulched area until it is settled and dry. Some types of bark mulch may contain chemicals or dyes, so we often recommend the use of natural, untreated mulch if this is a concern.
Bark mulch can that is applied properly in a layer 2 to 4 inches thick can provide a really good barrier against weeds. It can stop seeds from germinating by blocking their sunshine and access to water. However, bark mulch will not prevent 100% of weeds from coming through and will eventually need to be replaced.
Bark mulch is best installed during the early spring where it has a chance to do the most good for your landscape beds by preventing weed growth early in the season.
Landscape cloth, also known as weed barrier or landscape fabric, is commonly used in gardens and landscaping projects to help suppress weed growth and provide a barrier between the soil and mulch. However, there are several disadvantages to using landscape cloth below bark mulch and we generally don't recommend it.
#1. It Can Reduce Soil Quality: Landscape cloth can impede the natural flow of air, water, and nutrients into the soil. This can result in poorer soil quality and health, potentially limiting plant growth for the plants you actually do want to grow.
#2. Limits The Breakdown Of Organic Matter: By blocking the contact between the mulch and the soil, landscape cloth can limit the breakdown of organic matter from the mulch into the soil. This reduces the benefits of applying mulch, such as improved soil structure and nutrient availability for plants.
#3. Weeds And Grasses Can Still Grow: Over time, organic debris can accumulate on top of the landscape cloth, providing a suitable environment for weeds and grasses to grow. Additionally, some persistent weeds may still grow through the fabric.
#4. Makes Planting More Difficult: Installing new plants or reconfiguring the layout of your garden can be more challenging when landscape cloth is present, as you will need to cut through the fabric to create space for new plants.
#5. Durability Issues: Although some landscape fabrics are designed to be long-lasting, they can eventually degrade due to exposure to the elements, requiring replacement. In some cases, the fabric can tear, rendering it less effective as a weed barrier.
#6. Environmental Concerns: The production and disposal of synthetic landscape cloth can have negative environmental impacts. Some fabrics are made from petroleum-based materials, which are not biodegradable and can contribute to plastic pollution.
#7. Aesthetics: The edges of landscape cloth can sometimes become visible, detracting from the overall appearance of your garden or landscape.
While landscape cloth can be helpful in certain situations, it's important to consider these potential disadvantages before installing it under bark mulch.
Bark mulch can be used in vegetable gardens and around fruit trees, as it helps maintain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate temperature. If you plan on installing bark mulch in your vegetable gardens and around fruit trees it's best to choose a bark mulch that doesn't use any color dye or the dye is non-toxic.
Some types of bark mulch can slightly affect soil pH, but generally not enough to harm most plants. If you'd like us to we can test your soil pH and choose a bark mulch that suits your specific plants' needs.
Bark mulch is made from the outer layer of trees, wood chips are small pieces of wood, and shredded bark is longer strands of bark. Each type has different characteristics and may be more suitable for specific applications.
We do not offer “delivery only” services on mulch. We are a landscaping company and not a product supplier. If you require mulch delivered for you to install on your own, we suggest contacting your nearest landscape supply company.
If you’d like to schedule an estimate to deliver and install mulch in your garden beds we’d be happy to meet with you. Please call 815-200-9608 or fill out our online form and we’ll get right back to you.
Request Your Mulch Installation Estimate
Please Note: We have a minimum charge of $200 for bark mulch installation projects. This includes the mulch, delivery, and installation. For exact pricing please request an estimate.
Forest City Lawn care also does snow removal. They had our driveway & sidewalks shoveled before I had to leave for work at 7:30am. They did an excellent job.
This company does mowing and snow removal. They are very good at both. I would recommend any of their services.
I found this service on Facebook advertising for snow removal. Took a chance on them and they are definitely worth it. Very professional and thorough and very responsive. Highly recommend. Plan to look into having them do some lawn care this summer.
They do great work and are easy to work with. Quick responses to questions
Wonderful people and company! We needed someone to snowplow our driveway LAST MINUTE after a big storm. They came out in less than an half hr after my call. Will use them again!
