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Will mulch cause termites?
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Termites are attracted to all types of wood, but prefer large pieces of wood rather than ground mulch. The best preventative care is to make sure that water drains away from the foundation and annual treatment by an exterminator. A proper chemical barrier will stop termites from entering the home.
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Why use mulch?
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- Is aesthetically pleasing
- Controls erosion
- Retains soil moisture
- Moderates soil temperature
- Safe and non-toxic
- Retards weeds
- Keeps mowers and string trimmers away
- Creates a natural forest like environment
- Encourages bacteria, microbes, and organisms that break mulch into humus
- Leads to porous, loosely textured, aerobic soils
- Improves the health of plants
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Which mulch is best?
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This mainly depends on the area where the mulch is to be applied and to some extent the type of plants to be mulched. Areas that are wet and poorly drained should use coarser or loose mulch such as pine nuggets, mini chips, or colored mulch that will allow air movement. Dry, sandy areas should use the finer ground mulches such as triple ground pine and shredded hardwood bark. These will retain moisture. Areas that have steep slopes or wash areas should use shredded or stringy type mulch.
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How deep should mulch be applied?
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Mulch should be applied 3 to 4 inches deep. Reapply mulch regularly - once or twice yearly because the mulch decomposes. But remember to apply only enough to keep the depth at 3 to 4 inches.
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How should mulch be applied?
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Mulch should be applied 3 to 4 inches deep. For trees, mulch should be applied from the trunk to the drip line (the end of the branches). Do not apply mulch around tree trunks like volcanoes and do not apply directly against the trunk of trees. The could result in trunk decay and insects. Do not use black plastic under mulch. The could suffocate the roots. Reapply mulch regularly - once or twice per year - because mulch decomposes. But remember to keep the depth at 3 to 4 inches.
If weeds are in the mulch, pull out or use a herbicide such as Roundup.
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How many cubic yards of potting soil do I need?
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First, you should roughly figure the square footage (length * width) of the area to be covered.
- 1 cubic yard will cover 81 square feet 4 inches deep
- 1 cubic yard will cover 108 square feet 3 inches deep
- 1 cubic yard will cover 162 square feet 2 inches deep
- 1 cubic yard will cover 324 square feet 1 inch deep
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How many cubic yards of potting soil do I need?
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- 1 cubic yard will pot approximately 200 one-gallon pots
- 1 cubic yard will pot approximately 100 two-gallon pots
- 1 cubic yard will pot approximately 67 three-gallon pots
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What are compost benefits?
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- Using compost is a practice that does at once what nature would ultimately do
- Builds soil organic matter
- Slowly releases nutrients
- Improves water retention in soil
- Suppresses disease
- Helps break down pollutants
- Erosion control
- Can be used as a substitute for silt fence
- Improves the texture of clay and sandy soils
- Provides a huge number of beneficial soil organisms
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