How to Choose Mulch – Why Your Soil Wants Mulch

There is more to topdressing than chopped wood. Learn about cover types, costs, and design considerations here.

The word “mulch” is used almost exclusively as a descriptive name for commonly chopped wood or bark products. In fact, mulch is an umbrella term for any product organic or inorganic that serves as the top layer of soil.

Applying a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch throughout the planting bed helps conserve soil moisture, stabilize soil temperature, reduce soil erosion, reduce soil compaction, and prevent weed growth. Mulch also contributes to landscape design by reflecting color choices, local influences, and artistic expression.

There are two categories of mulch: organic and inorganic. This product can be used alone, with or without a landscape fabric underlayment. Landscape fabric keeps weeds at bay and prevents inorganic mulch from settling in the soil. However, landscape fabric is not effective in dense areas.

Organic mulch

Organic mulch is typically a wood product, such as pine needles or bark, shredded cedar, aspen chips, arborist’s tree trimmings, or materials such as recycled Christmas trees. However, compost, lawn clippings, nut shells, corn cobs, and even seashells are ideal for this purpose.

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Experts in tree removal, stump demolition, stump removal, tree trimming, tree mulching, tree pruning and emergency tree removal in Buffalo, NY!

Read our Reviews!!

      
   RDK Landscaping and Tree Services
   150 Google reviews 
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   Todd Wilhelm 
 2024-10-01
 
 
  Had sod installed at my house in Amherst. Job done very quickly and well. Highly recommended. Will be using them again for spring 2025 project.
  
 
       
   Md Mia 
 2024-09-27
 
 
  RDK Tree Service removed a large maple by the power lines. It was definitely not a easy job. They did the job safely and did it rather quickly. I will definitely recommend them for your tree services.
  
 
       
   Bike Lover 
 2024-09-27
 
 
  Residing in Buffalo NY, and needed to remove a large tree in the backyard and front yard. The crew did a fantastic job with removing it along with the stump. We are so impressed. Thank you RDK!
  
 
       
   selvachandran saravanan 
 2024-09-25
 
 
  Did a job here in my rental property in Amherst of removing two 60-70ft pine trees with stump removal and prepped an area for parking. RDK Landscaping is the one you should go to with your tree and landscaping/hardscaping needs. They are just the best overall!!
  
 
       
   jackary Rootis 
 2024-09-24
 
 
  I highly recommend them. Great crew, Super easy to work with. They’re doing a great job out here in East Amherst. Not only did I use them, but my neighbor and their son did as well and we couldn’t be happier.
  
 
       
   DIANE Abram: Toot-Toot Daycare 
 2024-09-21
 
 
  I hope these pictures speak for itself. I had called couple of companies to my property in Northampton, Buffalo, but only RDK Landscaping had come out so quick to give a quote for a project we started and couldn’t finish. They were so quick, efficient and had completed the project in about 2 days. They did a beautiful job, and answered all my questions throughout the entire process. I am so very thrilled about the results and could not recommend more! They are doing wonderful projects.
  
 
       
   Dan Duggan 
 2024-09-19
 
 
  RDK Landscaping did an amazing job!  We had 8 dead ash trees at our property in Clarence that needed to be taken down given their proximity to the house and garage, in addition to two trees close to the power lines.  I was very impressed with how quickly Roy and his team responded, came out to the property and got the job done.  I would highly recommend them!
  
 
       
   Andres Martinez 
 2024-09-14
 
 
  Everybody at RDK Landscaping was a pleasure to deal with, we had a big project with them to clear up some really overgrown gardens beds around our garage, they went above and beyond making our space useable again. Once the project was complete they made sure to clean everything up and even cleared some weeds we had on our driveway that we hadn’t even mention to them. Can’t recommend them enough and will be calling them first for any future landscaping projects.
  
 
       
   Esther Guess 
 2024-09-12
 
 
  The guys were quick and effective at getting all that ivy down. Great work!