Most San Diego landscapes benefit from a mulch inspection every six months and a light refresh approximately once a year when needed. Organic mulch may require substantial replenishment after 1 to 2 years, although durable bark products can last longer. The best times to refresh landscape mulch in San Diego are early spring (February to […]
To calculate how much gravel you need for a French drain, multiply the trench length, width, and gravel-fill depth in feet, subtract the space occupied by the drainage pipe, and divide by 27 to convert cubic feet into cubic yards. For example, a 50-foot French drain measuring 12 inches wide and containing 18 inches of […]
The best way to keep mulch from washing away on a slope is to use fibrous shredded bark, apply an even 2 to 3-inch layer, control concentrated runoff, and install erosion barriers where necessary. Gorilla Hair Mulch is a practical choice for many San Diego hillsides because its long fibers interlock and resist movement better […]
To compact Class 2 base correctly, prepare and compact the subgrade, spread aggregate in thin lifts, add enough moisture to support compaction, and make overlapping passes with a vibratory plate compactor or roller. For smaller projects, approximately 2 to 4 inches of loose material per lift is a practical starting point, depending on equipment capacity. […]
Can You Put New Mulch Over Old Mulch? When to Refresh vs. Remove It Yes, you can put mulch over old mulch when the existing material is thin, loose, draining properly, and free from major problems. Before adding fresh mulch, rake the old layer and measure the total depth. If old mulch is already too […]
Landscape material staging means planning where mulch, soil, rock, sand, and base materials will be delivered, stored, and moved before installation begins. On large jobs, we recommend separating each material, keeping truck and equipment routes open, sequencing deliveries around the construction schedule, protecting soil and mulch from contamination, and placing heavy aggregates as close as […]
To stop weeds in gravel and landscape rock, we start by removing existing weeds and roots, preparing and grading the soil, installing permeable landscape fabric where appropriate, overlapping and securing the seams, and covering the surface completely with rock. Long-term weed control also requires keeping leaves, dust, soil, and grass clippings from accumulating between stones, […]
For most backyard, school, daycare, HOA, and park playgrounds, we recommend engineered wood fiber or certified playground wood chips when buyers want a balance of impact protection, natural appearance, drainage, and affordable bulk coverage. Rubber mulch can provide strong impact attenuation at a shallower maintained depth, while pea gravel is inexpensive but generally offers a […]
To install decomposed granite, start by excavating organic soil, establishing drainage slope, compacting the subgrade, and installing a stable aggregate base where site conditions or traffic require one. At North County Mulch, we recommend using Class 2 Base beneath higher-use DG patios and walkways where additional structural support is needed, then placing DG in manageable […]
For most DIY hardscape projects, a compacted aggregate base provides the structural foundation while bedding sand creates the thin leveling layer needed beneath pavers or blocks. At North County Mulch, we recommend Class 2 base for load-bearing foundations, crushed stone or gravel where drainage is needed, and bedding sand only as the final leveling course. […]
