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Nice Spread

A multitude of mulching options keeps landscapers covered.

By Paul Rusnak
Managing Editor
August 2009
Recycled glass can be used as a mulch or decorative groundcover.
Recycled glass can be used as a mulch or decorative groundcover.
Photo courtesy of Larry's Cap Rock & Stone via D'Asign Source

The benefits of mulching are widely known: weed suppression, runoff reduction, good ground insulation, moisture conservation, aesthetic definition of landscape beds, etc. For today’s landscape professional, it’s not a question of whether to use mulch, but what kind to use. There are many different mulching options available to choose from, and not all of them are pine bark or cypress.

Amy Balbier, director of sales and marketing for Delray Beach, FL-based Amerigrow (www.amerigrow.com), says sustainability is a major driving force in today’s mulching product trends. “In general, the public is showing increased effort in being environmentally conscientious in their business and personal decisions.”
Alan Shaffer, vice president of sales and marketing of 7L Brands LLC (www.7lbrands.com), a division of Lykes Brothers Inc., agrees. He says consumers are looking for longevity, and municipalities, institutions, and resorts are seeking sustainability for their own reasons. “Sustainability may hold the key to available funding or green credits,” he says. “Longevity is basic economics by reducing multiple applications while maintaining a satisfying appearance.”

To help get the most out of the mulch, Balbier recommends using shredded mulch as opposed to chipped. “Shredded mulch fibers bind together like a mat on the landscape floor.”
In addition to mulch itself, efficient application of the product can save time and money in the long run. Dealing with a blow-on installation company can save a great deal on the landscaping budget, Balbier says. “The blow-on application process allows a more even product distribution than bulk and bagged installations, so you may actually need less mulch than with manual application.”

Good Wood

According to Shaffer, a lot of landscape architects are specifying natural mulches that won’t compete with the landscape palette. “Everyone wants safe and reliable raw material to avoid concerns from recycled construction and demolition materials, pallet wood, or industrial waste woods.”
 
Mulling Over Mulch
Alan Shaffer of 7L Brands LLC says there are some things landscapers need to know about picking the right mulch for the job.
• Know your customer’s
preference. “It is not always cost. Value could play a role.”

• Consider alternatives that provide differentiation. “Sustainability, longevity, avoids floating, high in organics for new planting beds, and unique color trends all can lend some distinction to a service offering.”

• If possible, provide your supplier with a projected seasonal volume or use rate. “It is a great negotiating tool to lower each purchase through the application season. Many contractors are considering larger bags such as 3 cubic foot bags up from 2 cubic foot bags. It provides freight advantages, less bag waste, and is less costly per cubic foot. As a manufacturer, it secures production time on the line for
large volume users, assuring supply when it is needed.”

Balbier concurs and says one way to guarantee quality is to look for products certified by the Mulch & Soil Council (www.mulchandsoilcouncil.org). The trade association has a certification program comprising reviews, tests, and inspections for bagged mulch and growth media products. The organization does not yet certify bulk much, Balbier adds.

One positive trend for the environment is the practice of removing and making use of invasive plants like melaleuca to create mulch. “It’s becoming more of a standard in Florida not to use native trees in mulch like Florida cypress,” Balbier says.

Eucalyptus is a suitable substitute for cypress and meets the needs for those wanting to go green, Shaffer says. “It regenerates from the stump, matures to full size, and can be harvested four times over 25 to 30 years. This enables us to produce mulch, keep the parent tree alive, and the forest growing.”

Appealing Alternatives

Recycled rubber and painted mulch have gained some traction in the market for their low maintenance and lasting power. Balbier says a benefit of using product covered in a mulch-specific paint is that it will not fade and can hold color up to a year. Similarly, rubber mulch won’t break down at the rate of organic mulch, so fewer applications are needed. On the down side for plants, the lack of nutrient value associated with non-organic product is a disadvantage.
 
Click here to see some good rules of thumb for mulching all landscapers should follow.
Allyson Humphries, director of sales and marketing, for Homestead, FL-based Larry’s Cap Rock & Stone (www.larryscaprockandstone.com), says she is seeing more clients request alternatives to traditional mulch products because of things like erosion and the growing desire for low-maintenance, sustainable landscapes. Demand for mulching options like recycled glass has increased for those seeking not only an eco-friendly mulch, but also a unique looking, textured product. Processed to make it safe for handling and available in several color choices, recycled glass can be used as a mulch or even just a decorative groundcover, Humphries says. “The pros of working with the glass mulch are that it’s recycled and that it’s not affected by the weather. A con is that it has long lead times associated with it.”

Balbier says the growing number of mulching options is a win-win for the landscapers and their clients. “It’s important to offer mulch that will provide more of a positive impact on landscapes for a longer time.”

 

Comments:

Submitted by: Anonymous
March 28, 2010
I need info abouth glass mulch please @ 305-409-6609

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