Grounds, Landscaping & Snow

Mulch Selection

Useful Information

Page 1 of 1

Mulch Overview

  •  This common practice is one of the larger line item spends as part of an SOW
  • A few considerations around type, depth and timing of installation should be considered for a successful landscape
  • Mulch is an important component of landscaping that can be equal parts a style statement and one of the best ways to provide nutrients and protection for your plants. In addition to supporting the health and fertility of your plant beds, mulch can help the soil retain moisture, regulate drainage, create a barrier against extreme temperatures or wind, prevent unwanted weed growth and reduce your yard erosion over time
  • A clean, uniform application of mulch can even add a pop of color or texture to your landscape and make your property look well-maintained. Organic mulch, usually made from wood chips and tree bark in combination with other formerly living matter, provides excellent nutritional benefits for healthy plants—but it also comes with drawbacks. Since organic mulches decompose, they also need to be reapplied every season, which can get expensive and laborious
  • Dyed mulch should be aged to prevent staining walkways and surrounding areas

There are many alternatives to mulch that are both beautiful and practical and—thankfully—not all of them will require seasonal reapplication or smell like organic mulch. Regardless of which type of mulch you choose, you’ll want to ensure that your plants can tolerate it and that you calculate how much mulch you’ll need before buying.

GLS-038 - Ver 1.0 (Aug 23)

Confidential & Proprietary | 2023 CBRE Inc.

Groundcover (Green Mulch)

  • Living, low growing plants used as an alternative to mulch
  • This approach is significantly beneficially in sloped areas limiting the amount of erosion once plants have established
  • Add nutrients into the soil and support health of surrounding plants if growth is kept in check
  • Need maintained and trimmed to prevent from overgrowth into other areas
  • Examples of groundcover plants include: 
    • clover, chamomile, creeping jenny, flowering thyme, lamb’s ear, sweet alyssum, sedum, creeping juniper and more

Rocks & Stones

  • There are many options when it comes to using rocks, stones and gravel as mulch
  • Many varieties are available to customize your site
  • Does not require reapplication of stones annually since it does not decompose like organic mulches
  • Large stones require more effort to install, but are more stables than small stones / gravel which can be displaced easier
  • Prevent animals nesting in your plant beds
  • Higher cost than organic mulch options
    • If departing from organic mulch, there is a long ROI to convert to Stone
  • Pumice rocks are popular due to their highly porous composition which allows water flow to the soil
  • Consider adding a granular or liquid weed barrier for optimum results

Inorganic Mulch Alternatives

  • Inorganic mulch, or synthetic mulch, includes black plastic, rubber, geotextiles, landscape fabrics or stones such as pebbles, gravel or small rocks
  • This type of mulch does not break down over time, but smaller mulches can sink into the soil over time and may require touch up applications

Rubber

  • Typically composed of 100% recycled rubber such as rubber tires, which reduces landfill waste
  • Rubber doesn't decompose so it reduces fungus and weed growth
  • Allows water to reach the soil directly
  • Heavier than organic mulch so it is harder to disrupt during heavy wind / storms
  • Main drawback is that some rubber contains chemicals that can trickle into the soil and it is much more expensive than organic mulch
  • Consider adding a granular or liquid weed barrier for optimum results

Organic Mulch Alternatives

  • Organic mulch consists of material that was once living such as:
    • Tree bark, wood chips, pine straw, moss, leaves, grass clippings, sawdust, paper, compost or even manure
  • Most eco-friendly option 
  • Consider adding a granular or liquid weed barrier for optimum results
Back to Top
Link: Price of Mulch (USA)

Click here to view mulch pricing page

How To Calculate How Much Mulch I Need

  • Measure all bed and tree ring square footage
  • For Example:
    • If a bed is 50 feet wide x 4 feet depth and has 30% of the bed occupied by plants
    • 50 feet wide x 4 feet deep = 200 square feet x 70% utilization = 140 square feet of mulch needed
    • Gather all your bed mulch-space measurements for total square feet, divide by 27, then divide by 12. This will give you the number of cubic yards of mulch needed at 1” of depth
    • If you need 2 inches of depth double it, 3” then 3x…