Homesteading, Gardening, and Off-Grid Living

Category: Mulch

  • Best Wood Mulch For a Playground: Wood Chips Vs Rubber

    Best Wood Mulch For a Playground: Wood Chips Vs Rubber

    When building a backyard playground, it’s a good idea to put mulch under it to create a safe area for kids to play. There are a number of different playground mulch options including wood chips, bark, rubber mulch, and pea gravel. The best playground mulch depends on your budget, the location of the playground equipment,…

  • Can You Burn Old Mulch? Pros and Cons + Fire Tips

    Can You Burn Old Mulch? Pros and Cons + Fire Tips

    You can burn old mulch to get rid of it as long as it is made of an organic material. You can burn it in an open fire or in a wood stove. Burning mulch can be a great way to dispose of it. You can even use it as fuel for heat.  You should…

  • The Best Mulch for Strawberries: Straw or Wood Chips?

    The Best Mulch for Strawberries: Straw or Wood Chips?

    The best mulch for strawberry plants is clean organic mulch like straw, pine needles, or shredded leaves. You can also use other types of organic mulch such as wood chips, bark nuggets, or grass clippings. Mulch is beneficial for strawberries. It can protect them from the cold, help keep the weeds down, and provide valuable…

  • Rubber Mulch Vs Lava Rocks for Landscaping: Which is Best?

    Rubber Mulch Vs Lava Rocks for Landscaping: Which is Best?

    When landscaping, it’s always a good idea to use some type of ground cover. Mulch can also suppress weed growth, retain moisture, reduce erosion, and insulate the soil. Most mulch is made from organic matter like wood chips, bark, straw, or pine needles. Synthetic or inorganic mulches can also be a good option because they…

  • How to Lay Mulch Over Grass with Sheet Mulching

    How to Lay Mulch Over Grass with Sheet Mulching

    Are you trying to kill off some grass to start a vegetable garden or build some flower beds? You may be wondering, can’t you just lay mulch over the grass to smother it and then start planting?  Generally, the answer is no. The grass and weeds will grow through the mulch if you don’t find…

  • Should I Use Landscape Fabric Under Mulch? Pros and Cons

    Should I Use Landscape Fabric Under Mulch? Pros and Cons

    Some gardeners use landscape fabric under their mulch to prevent weed growth in their gardens. Generally, this is a bad idea. Landscape fabric may keep weeds down for a couple of seasons but it doesn’t last forever. Eventually, weeds will start growing on top of the fabric or through it. Landscape fabric is also bad…

  • How to Shred Fallen Leaves for Mulch: 5 Options

    How to Shred Fallen Leaves for Mulch: 5 Options

    Instead of bagging your fallen leaves and throwing them out with the yard waste, consider using them as mulch. Mulching your garden with shredded leaves can help suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, insulate the soil, and reduce erosion. The leaves also add valuable nutrients and organic matter to the soil as they degrade. Best of…

  • The Best Mulch to Keep Snakes Away From Your Yard

    The Best Mulch to Keep Snakes Away From Your Yard

    If you’re concerned about attracting snakes to your yard, there are some steps you can take to keep them away. One of the best ways to keep snakes out is to use the right mulch. This guide outlines the best mulches to keep snakes out of your yard. I’ll also list some helpful tips to…

  • How to Get Rid of Mushrooms Growing in Your Mulch

    How to Get Rid of Mushrooms Growing in Your Mulch

    In wet climates, it’s common to see mushrooms growing in your mulch. Generally, mushrooms are harmless to your plants but it is still a good idea to get rid of them. Mushrooms can be unsightly. They can be dangerous if a curious child or pet decides to eat them. Some types can be harmful to…

  • The Best Mulch for Fruit Trees + How and When to Mulch

    The Best Mulch for Fruit Trees + How and When to Mulch

    The best mulch for fruit trees is an organic mulch such as wood chips, bark, straw, compost, pine straw, grass clippings, or shredded leaves. The best mulches mimic the tree’s natural environment. Inorganic mulches can also be used. Mulching benefits fruit trees in a number of ways. It can help to suppress weeds, regulate soil…