Garden Maintenance · Nassau County

Mulching in Nassau County, Done at the Right Depth

Thinking about mulching in Nassau County this spring? Drive down almost any street in May and you’ll see trees with mulch piled up the trunk like a volcano. It looks neat, but it slowly rots the bark. We’re Arnol MR Landscaping, a father-and-son crew, and we put mulch down the way that helps your plants.

Beds & trees

Mulching

Mulch does a lot of quiet work. It holds water in the soil, keeps roots cooler in summer, blocks weeds and breaks down over time to feed the soil. On sandy Long Island soil that dries out fast, that helps a lot.

2 to 3 inches is plenty

Thicker isn’t better. Past about 3 inches, water has a hard time getting through, and roots can start growing up into the mulch instead of down into the soil. If there’s still old mulch in the bed, we top it up instead of piling a new layer on top.

Keep it off trunks and stems

We leave a few inches of space around tree trunks and shrub stems. Mulch piled against bark holds moisture and invites rot and pests.

Shredded hardwood

The most common choice. Knits together and stays put on slopes.

Pine bark

A bit coarser and slower to break down. Good for acid-loving shrubs.

Colored mulch

Black or brown for a clean look. Ask what’s in it before you buy.

Leaf mulch

Shredded leaves make a free, natural mulch for beds.

How much

How much mulch do you need?

Mulch is sold by the cubic yard. One cubic yard covers about 160 square feet at 2 inches deep, or about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep. Measure your beds, multiply length by width, and you’ll have a good idea. Or text us photos and we’ll figure it out.

When to mulch

Spring, after the cleanup and bed edging, is the best time. The soil has started to warm up, and fresh mulch keeps weeds from getting a head start. A light top-up in fall helps protect roots over winter.

Edge first

We cut fresh bed edges before mulching. The trench gives the mulch a place to sit, so it doesn’t wash onto the lawn in the first heavy rain.

Cottage-style home with a cut lawn and full, colorful flower beds along a fence
Fresh mulch in the beds
Shady garden with moss-like ground cover, a flower planter and a mature tree
Mulch ring around a mature tree

Where we work

Where we do mulching in Nassau County

We do mulching for homes in East Williston, Garden City, Mineola, East Meadow, Levittown, Bethpage, Plainview, Hicksville, Albertson, Roslyn Heights, Carle Place and Westbury. See every town on our Nassau County towns list.

A lot of our spring mulching happens in April and May, right after cleanups. Book early if you want it done before Memorial Day.

This is part of our garden maintenance work. Related services: weed control, edging services, flower bed installation and shrub planting.

Mulching questions

What homeowners ask about mulching in Nassau County

Who’s the best mulching service near me?

Look at the trees in yards they take care of. If mulch is piled up against the trunks, keep looking. A good crew edges first, keeps it 2 to 3 inches deep and leaves space around trunks.

What do I do if mulch is piled up against my tree?

Pull it back by hand so the base of the trunk, where it flares out, is showing. Leave a few inches of space and spread the rest out flat in a wide ring.

How often should I mulch?

Most beds need a top-up once a year, usually in spring. If the old mulch is still thick, you may only need a thin layer.

How much does mulching cost?

It depends on how many beds you have and what kind of mulch you want. Text a few photos of the beds for a free quote.

Nassau County

Get fresh mulch in your Nassau County beds.

Text a few photos of the beds for a free quote.