[toddmd2]

I want to redo some beds in my back yard. There's two of them actually, and one is quite large. I was leaning towards mulch but was wondering if there was anything you folks could recommend as an alternative?

The beds I need to redo are both of a decent size and I'm worried that using all that mulch will look a bit odd. Something that's aesthetically different from mulch would be welcome. I prefer that my things (be it lawn, interiors, exteriors) have some uniqueness to them. Is there anything out there that fits this bill? I'm open to anything.

Thanks all!

[HardDaysKnight]

What's in bed 1 and what's in bed 2?
Are there any hards or just softs.
Sometimes adding something can change the equation.
For example: If you have a lengthy bed with depth and
you add a bench or 2, maybe a small bistro and a potted
tropical, you have created a themed sitting area and
there are many 3/8 or 3/4 stones to compliment that and
the contrast of the mulch against the aggregate is nice.
If there aren't many cats you can use beach sand and
create a cute area with a hammock and even a fire-pit.
What I'm getting at is the mulched beds can be fuctional
rather just a lawn/buffer differential.

[NC Lawnscapes]

Yes please do tell what is in these beds as it would help alot. Also if you have a digi camera take afew pics and post them or Email them to me and Ill try and help ya out

lawnscapes@gmail.com

Now first there is some stuff to stay away from

1. Crushed Brick Chips
2. RED MULCH
3. White Rock
4. Lava Rock
5. Ruberized mulch

[GLAN]

Mulch look odd?

I don't understand what you mean by "odd"?

Do you have any commercial properties? Like Home Depot......Shopping Centers......Office buildings and the like? Do they not mulch their planting beds?

Ever consider why mulch is used?

Applied at a depth of 2-3" the mulch supresses weeds.......less labor.

Mulch will also keep soils temperate and regulate soil moisture.........reducing the needs for water.

Mulch decomposes over time......resulting in the addition of organic matter to the soil.


Do those sound like pluses or negatives?

[toddmd2]

Originally posted by GLAN
Do those sound like pluses or negatives?

Ummm, negatives? Just kidding.

Right now we have red mulch in there. The area that will be mulched is surrounding a concrete patio. The patio is probably around 15'X15'. The larger bed has a very large tree (just to give you an idea of the size, it would take me and two friends joining hands to go all the way around the tree) right in the center and is the focal point of the bed. The other bed runs probably 10' along the back of the house and curves around to line a privacy fence. There's a small path made of "lucky stones" that separates the two beds.

There's a rudimentary image along with this post. It'll give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

[JIM DARCY]

It seems that you have plenty of room to create some outdoor "rooms". Maybe create a seating area that is tucked into the corner surrounded by some shrubbery to give a more secluded area. Also look into some water features. Maybe a small pond with some water lilies etc and a seating area. Oh yeah, unless you have a commercial setting get rid of the red mulch!!!!

[toddmd2]

I already have water features in the back corner of my yard. I believe it's called poor drainage. Every time it rains that corner of my yard gets flooded for a couple days. That's another problem for another day.

So what's so bad about the red mulch? My girlfriend and I agree that we like the looks of it, but its just so sporadic and sparse that it looks like they haven't mulched for some time. I'm not going to replace it with the red though, I don't like it that much.

[GLAN]

Alternative to mulch......

Ground covers........I am thinking. Plants.

Ajuga, Periwinkle, Pachysandra.....Do a shade planting under the tree with Ajuga, hostas, astilbe.....ferns. Maybe some Sweet Box, Luecothoe, Skimmea, Siberian Carpet........There are several varities of Yews that have longer branching and stay low that would be shade tolerant.

[HardDaysKnight]

Commercial or residential...GET RID OF THE RED MULCH!
Man is that red mulch the most hideous dressing.
I would stick with double-shredded brown or for a
richer look pay extra for the black. I agree with Glan on
a different thread that the black mulch tops all and it
seriously makes all your gardens and and hardgoods
stand out.

[NC Lawnscapes]

Red Mulch is to a landscaper what a broken ankel is to a football player........

[dirigo]

LOL! Re: comments about red mulch. Now, in all honesty, I've been looking for attractive mulch, soooo ... my wife and I took a ride around a few neighborhoods to see what looked nice and not so nice.

Well, my wife eyed the red mulch (?redwood?) and it looked good to her. While I will admit some of it looked good, but overall it was much too stark, strong a color for me. I think when I saw the red I was "daydreaming about GA red clay".

Anyway, we went and looked at various mulches at the box stores and I decided to buy a few bags of the triple-shredded Cypress brownish mulch to spread it around and see what it would look like. Overall, it didn't look too bad IMHO, soooo ... I ask you folks your opinion on the viability of using this product.

I'm curious about the mentioning of "black" mulch. Is this wood mulch that has been specially treated to have a black color?

I read some good suggestions about alternatives to mulch ... meaning plants. I have Ajuga on a gentle slope in the back of the house. It's good stuff, but you do sort of have to watch it ... grow and expand. I'd like to toss in one more ... Georgia Blue veronica. It does like a lot of sun. Overall, where I have planted it, it has done well - only grows to about 6-7 inches in height and has nice blooming flowers during the spring months (April-May here in GA). The blue flowers have sort of a white circle inside ... lack of better words to describe it and I don't know the latin name for it, but do a "google" and I'm sure you can find more info.

Thanks in advance,

dirigo

[NC Lawnscapes]

Dirigo

First let me say Cypress is some VERY NICE Mulch but VERY Expensive

Next you mentioned Red Mulch and said ?redwood? and I want to let you know how Red Mulch is Made Most places

First it isnt redwood nice try lol but it is nothing more than Pallets and landscaping timbers and other scrap wood that cant be used anymore.

What do you mean you ask

Ok the place that makes red mulch buys broken pallets mostly and then runs them thru the hammerer (shreeder) and then runs a BIG Magnet over them severla times to remove the Nails and such

Then they put the shreeded wood (if you can call it shreadded) into a big tumbler and throw some red dye onto it and whalaa you have red mulch

The black is done the same way BUT it dont look hidious

NOW the Red Mulch that you can buy in the bags is taken from Treadted lumber and did the same way but be careful with it if you have dogs that like to chew on wood alot because over time the Aresnic in the baged mulch (red) can cause them to get sick

[dirigo]

NC Lawnscapers ...

Thanks a lot for your explanation. You certainly enlightened this "aged fella"! No, I don't know much about mulches, but am learning from you folks who are so willing to share your knowledge and experience. I certainly do appreciate it.

I've seen plenty of the red mulch, but can't say that I've seen any black mulch ... yet. Around here it seems a 2 Cubic bag of Cypress Mulch goes for about $2.00 a bag normally. Of course, they have sales (HD or Lowes) from time to time. From your comments I guess I should try to get whatever mulch in bulk as it would save money overall ... now that's a good excuse to talk to the wife about buying a big truck and/or trailer, right?

Good point about dogs and the red/black mulch created from arsenic treated pallet wood. I'd never thought of that! By the way, is there such a mulch as redwood (from fallen redwood trees)? Probably would be dang expensive, wouldn't it?

I'm going to have a closer look at a map of NC. We've driven through the western part of NC and I remember it being quite pretty (it was in the fall time).

Take care and, again, do appreciate your explanation.

dirigo

[GLAN]

I have a dog.......have had dogs all my life.....Not this one or the last one chewed the mulch. Though I would tend to agree that there is a possibility that there would be treated lumber in the mulch and the hazard it posses...........

Although........I don't recall any of our home owners mentioning the chewing of mulch pieces.

Besides.......there would be so much mulch spread out it would be rather difficult for a dog to pick and chose......I found that dogs single out the oddity in the yard........Mainly fallen branches and sticks.

[AZTLANLC]

Actually at $2 per 2 cubic yards the price is not so bad, maybe the bulk will be a little less money but bags will be easy on your back and faster to install at leat for one person crew.