The Advantages of Using Sod

There’s no denying that a beautiful lawn with neatly trimmed green grass looks great.  The challenge for most people is transforming their dull, brown soil into beautiful grass. You have to decide whether to use sod or seed. Your decision should be based on three factors.

What’s Your Budget?

Determine how much you can spend before making your decision to use sod or grass seed.

Sod is more expensive than grass seed. In fact, grass seed is typically cheaper than any type of sod that’s available. The reason for this is that someone else already did the hard work of cultivating grass seeds. You pay for them to carefully cultivated a patch of grass for you. The great thing about sod is that it is mature grass.

What’s Your Terrain Like?

The terrain or type of soil (yard) you have is an important factor. Seed might be more effective than sod if your lawn is plagued with “shaded spots” because sod does better in the sun. In addition, you can buy a special type of seed that won’t die in the shade.

However, if there are steep sides to your lawn, sod will be a better choice because seeds tend to get washed away before they can take root.

How Soon Do You Want Results?

You can have a solid, sturdy, and beautiful lawn in a matter of hours using sod.

Additionally, sod might be your only choice if you missed the primary seeding season that occurs during late spring and the early part of autumn. Seeds need warm soil to grow; however, sod can take root in any temperature that’s above freezing.

Posted on behalf of Clayton Hulen, Green Brothers Earth Works

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Choosing the Right Mulch for Your Landscape

There’s no such thing as an one-size-fits-all mulch.

Your understanding of the various attributes of different types of mulch will help you select the right mulch for your landscape. And, the first distinction or decision you’ll want to make is whether your situation calls for “summer (growing) mulch” or “winter mulch.”

Summer or Winter Mulch

Summer (growing) mulch is typically applied in the spring, after the soil has begun to warm.  Summer mulch is used mostly to: 

  • Reduce the growth of weeds
  • Keep the soil moist
  • Keep the soil evenly warm throughout the summer

Winter mulch is typically applied in the fall, after the soil begins to cool. Shredded leaves, straw, and pine mulch make for good winter mulches. Winter mulch is used mostly to:

  • Insulate woody plants
  • Ensure the soil is evenly cool during the winter

Location

Your next consideration is deciding which mulch is best for your location.  Following are helpful examples of matching mulch to a specific location.

  • Vegetable gardens and small fruit plans commonly require straw, with black plastic
  • Shrub beds and the area around trees are suited well for pine bark mulch chunks, wood chips, and pine needles
  • Annual and perennial beds can be made attractive with fine mulches such as cocoa shells, buckwheat hulls, wood shavings, and bark granules.
  • Rock gardens look more natural with crushed stone or fine gravel mulches

Cost and Availability

Cost and availability are certainly two other considerations when choosing a mulch.

Some mulches are “regional,” only available in regions where they’re processed.  Buckwheat and cocoa are quite attractive, but they are also “regional” and much more expensive than bark or wood chips.

Posted on behalf of Clayton Hulen, Green Brothers Earth Works

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What Can Mulch Do For Your Landscape?

Mulch adds a certain beauty to your landscape that can’t be achieved without it.

However, it is good for more than revamping the look of your landscape. Mulch can help your landscaping goals become a reality in more than just a few ways.

Mulch Can Reduce Plant Diseases

Some plant diseases are due to fungal spores that are deflected from the ground up onto your plants from rain or watering your plants. Such diseases can damage and even destroy your plants.

You can use mulch to reduce plant diseases. Mulch allows for a gentler dispersing of rain or water along your plant bed instead of allowing fungal spores to bounce up from the bare ground onto your plant.

Mulch Can Control Erosion

Mulch creates a barrier between your precious soil and the harsh elements of weather. Mulch keeps your soil intact instead of being eroded by rain and wind. It is especially useful when landscaping sloped areas that are easily eroded by heavy rain.

Mulch Can Regulate Your Soil’s Temperature

In most places, there are dramatic temperature fluctuations. Extreme high and low temperatures can wreak havoc on soil and plants.

Mulch provides a layer of protection that helps to regulate the temperature of your soil. You can think of it as a protective “blanket” that protects your soil and shields the roots of your plants from the harsh, hot sun.

Mulch Can Conserve Your Soil’s Moisture

The soil and roots of your plants would be dried up by the sun without mulch. For example, by adding mulch to your plant beds, you’ll not have to water them as frequently because the soil conserves more moisture.

Posted on behalf of Clayton Hulen, Green Brothers Earth Works

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