Mulching & Bed Maintenance

More Than Just Good Looks

Fresh mulch makes your landscape look maintained and cared for. But mulch does more than improve appearance. It helps soil retain moisture, regulates temperature around plant roots, prevents weed growth, and slowly adds organic matter as it breaks down. Your plants grow healthier with proper mulching.

Bell Gardens summers get hot and dry. Mulched beds need 30 to 40 percent less water than bare soil because mulch reduces evaporation. During winter, mulch insulates roots from temperature swings. A three-inch layer of quality mulch creates the ideal environment for plants to thrive year-round.

Complete Bed Maintenance Services

Keeping planting beds looking great requires more than adding fresh mulch once a year. Here is what we include in our maintenance programs:

• Weed removal before applying new mulch to start with a clean slate
• Edge trimming to create clean lines between beds and lawn areas
• Old mulch refresh or removal if existing material has broken down completely
• Quality organic mulch application at proper depth for maximum benefits
• Plant inspection to identify pest problems or disease issues early
• Light pruning to remove dead material and maintain plant shapes

We use organic hardwood mulch that looks natural and breaks down slowly. Cheaper dyed mulch fades quickly and offers less benefit to soil. Rock mulch works well in some situations but does not improve soil or provide the same moisture retention. We help you choose the right material for each bed based on plants and sun exposure.

How Often Should You Refresh Mulch

Most planting beds benefit from fresh mulch once per year, typically in spring before hot weather arrives. Beds with heavy shade may only need refreshing every 18 to 24 months since mulch breaks down more slowly without intense sun exposure. High-traffic areas or beds that face afternoon sun often need attention twice yearly.

You do not need to remove old mulch completely unless it has compacted or developed fungal growth. We usually add a fresh layer over existing material that has broken down to two inches or less. This maintains proper depth without excessive buildup against plant stems. Want comprehensive property care? We combine mulching with our full-service Bell Gardens landscaping programs, including ongoing tree and shrub maintenance and regular lawn care services.

Mulching Questions Answered