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News & Information

Ask The Green Expert...
Why Should You Mulch?

This is the time of year you should be mulching your planting beds, ready for the Growing Season which starts in April. Applying mulch, or substitutes, is a very labor-intensive exercise, so you should take advantage of the lower rates offered during the winter.

Why should you mulch? The main reasons are to control weed growth, and to conserve water. Weeds need light to grow, and three or four inches of mulch will provide an effective barrier, whilst not inhibiting the growth of already established plants. The mulch also provides a barrier to the heat from the sun, thereby reducing loss of moisture from evaporation.

Other benefits of mulch include its visual attractiveness, particularly the colored cypress varieties, and a reduction of soil erosion. Cypress mulch also has the benefit of a certain amount of natural insect repellent, and the property of actually enriching the soil when it eventually decomposes.

Some people favor pine bark instead of cypress mulch, but you need to be careful where you put it, because it will float away if you get heavy rain. It is also more prone to harboring insects.

Alternatives to natural cypress or pine bark include lava rock, decorative rock, and rubber. The rubber mulch is made from old tires, which are chopped up and painted in a variety of colors. Rubber and rocks are much more expensive than natural mulches, but have the advantage of being semi-permanent, and therefore not requiring annual topping up. Rubber mulch is particularly suited to children's play areas, whilst various types of rocks can provide a pleasing appearance in certain formal areas. I would not recommend putting rocks in areas with high sun exposure, however, as they will get very hot may damage plant roots. The excess heat may also cause evaporation and insect problems.

All types of mulches and substitutes are available from our company... Florida Environmental Care!

 

ITEM

PRICE PER CUBIC YARD

SUPPLIED & INSTALLED

NOTES
CYPRESS MULCH
Grade A

$40.00 Winter
$45.00 Summer

Price Break Over 100 C/Y
CYPRESS MULCH
Grade B
$40.00 Winter
$45.00 Summer
Price Break Over 100 C/Y
COLORED MULCH
$45.00 Winter
$50.00 Summer

Red Only, Call For Pricing Of Other Colors

Price Break Over 100 C/Y

PINE BARK
$40.00 Winter
$45.00 Summer
Price Break Over 100 C/Y
LAVA ROCK
$185.00 Winter
$200.00 Summer
Delivery Charges May Apply
RIVER ROCK
1/2" - $110.00
3/4" - $120.00
1 1/2" - $150.00
Delivery Charges May Apply
RUBBER MULCH
Call For Pricing And Availability
N/A
PINE STRAW
$6.86 Per Bale
15 Bale Minimum For Non-Maintenance Accounts
TOP SOIL
$34.50 C/Y
Delivery Charges May Apply
POTTING SOIL
$37.50 C/Y
Delivery Charges May Apply
FILL DIRT
$25.00 C/Y
Delivery Charges May Apply
WASHED SHELL
$55.00 C/Y
Delivery Charges May Apply

 

Please order early to guarantee availability.

Click on the green box below

 

Call (727) 446-6292
or e-mail
DJ@FEC1.com

Make sure you check in with us often to get valuable news and information concerning the "Green Industry!"
Please call or e-mail me if you have any questions.

David "DJ" Overbeck

 

 

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Florida Environmental Care
Quality Integrated Landscape Maintenance Services
PO Box 15026, Clearwater, Florida 33766
Telephone: (727) 446-6292 Facsimile: (727) 443-2690 www.FloridaEnvironmentalCare.com

www.FEC1.com

 

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