Hi, I'm Isaac, owner of Ready 2 Mow. When people think about yard care, they usually think about the grass. But the flower beds around your house make a big difference in how your whole yard looks. In fall, a lot of beds around Seminole look tired. The mulch has faded, it's gotten thin from summer storms, and leaves and weeds have moved in. Here's how I'd freshen up your beds this season.
Why fall is a good time
Summer rain in Pinellas County can wash mulch out of beds and onto sidewalks and driveways. Hot sun also fades it fast. By fall, a lot of beds have bare spots where you can see the dirt. Fall is a nice time to fix that because the days are cooler, so the work is easier, and fresh mulch helps the beds hold moisture as the weather gets drier.
Step 1: Clear out the old stuff
Before adding anything new, clean the bed out:
- Pick up leaves, fronds and sticks. Oak leaves and palm fronds pile up in beds and hide everything underneath.
- Pull weeds by hand. Get the roots, not just the tops. It's much easier when the soil is a little damp, like the day after a rain.
- Rake out clumps of old mulch that have gotten matted down. Matted mulch can keep water from soaking in.
Don't just dump new mulch on top of weeds. They'll just poke right back through.
Step 2: Check how deep the mulch is
A lot of people pile mulch way too high. A layer of about 2 to 3 inches is usually plenty for most beds. If you still have a couple of inches of old mulch that looks okay, you might only need a light top layer to refresh the color.
Too much mulch can actually cause problems. It can hold too much water against plant roots and make it hard for rain to reach the soil.
Step 3: Keep mulch off stems and walls
This is one of the most common mistakes I see:
- Leave a small gap around shrub stems and tree trunks. Mulch piled up against the bark (people call it a "mulch volcano") keeps the bark wet all the time, which isn't good for the plant.
- Keep it back from the house. Mulch piled against your siding or foundation holds moisture against the wall. A few inches of space is a good idea.
Step 4: Edge the bed first
A clean edge between your grass and your bed makes fresh mulch look ten times better. Edging also helps keep grass like St. Augustine from creeping into the bed, because it spreads with runners that love to sneak in. Edge the bed line before you spread the mulch so everything looks sharp when you're done.
Step 5: Spread it evenly
Use a rake or your hands to spread the mulch evenly. Work it in around plants carefully so you don't bury small ones. When you're done, sweep or blow any mulch off the sidewalk, driveway and patio. Loose mulch on concrete looks messy and can wash into the street drain when it rains.
Picking a mulch
There are lots of types, like pine bark, pine straw and different wood mulches. Pine straw and pine bark are popular in Florida yards. Some people like the colored mulches for a bold look. Whatever you choose, the most important thing is the right depth and keeping it off stems and walls.
Keep it looking good
Once your beds are fresh, a little care goes a long way:
- Pull small weeds as soon as you see them, before they spread.
- Clear leaves out of beds when you clean up the yard.
- Rake the mulch every so often to fluff it up so it doesn't get matted.
- Keep the edges trimmed so grass stays out.
Need a hand?
If your beds are buried in leaves and weeds, I can help get them cleaned up. Ready 2 Mow does hand weeding, edging, yard cleanup and mowing around Seminole, Bay Pines, the Redingtons, Madeira Beach, Indian Shores, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Largo and west St. Pete. I haul away the debris, I'm insured, and I take all types of payment.
Quotes are always free. Call or text me at (727) 304-7803, or request a free quote online.