Spring has sprung, and the warmer weather, sunshine, and longer days are inspiring Tennessee gardeners to don their overalls and get to work. The folks at The Mulch Company put together ten quick tips for smart gardeners to follow when mulching, fertilizing, watering, weeding, mowing, and planting this spring.

1). Choose the Right Mulch for Your Project

Cool weather and dormant plants during early spring make it the best season to mulch. Pine Mulches like Piney Mulch™, Piney Nuggets™, and Piney Fines™ are perfect for acid-loving trees and shrubs like roses, azaleas, and rhododendrons. Hardwood mulches like Mocha Mulch™ and Chocolate Chip Mulch™ are a popular option when a dark brown color is preferred. Black mulches like Midnight Mulch™ help highlight flower colors. Mulch products like Walking Trailmix™ are preferred for garden rows.

2). Add Gourmet Compost™ to Newly Planted Perennials and Trees

The primary planting season in Tennessee is autumn, but perennials and some trees (like redbuds) may be planted during spring. Use a soil amendment like Gourmet Compost™ to help spring’s (or last autumn’s) plantings take root and withstand the hot southern summer.

3). Use a Mulching Mower on Your Lawn

Once the lawn takes off, use a mulching mower and mow at four inches. Grass clippings become fertilizer, which then helps the lawn establish while fending off weeds and invasive plants.

4). Weed, Feed, and DON’T Seed!

Apply a pre-emergent weed killer on the lawn to eliminate weed seeds while they are still dormant. In the garden, use Gourmet Compost™ as an organic alternative to chemical fertilizer, as the compost will improve the moisture-holding capacity of the clay-rich Tennessee soil. Then, add a preferred mulch option as a surface dressing. But most importantly, DON’T seed during spring, as most grasses planted in spring cannot develop a root system strong enough to withstand the extreme summer heat.

5). Consider Midnight Mulch™ for its Horticultural Value

The best mulch is the mulch that does the most good for the soil it is applied to. The Mulch Company’s Midnight Mulch™ is made with charcoal, which has horticultural value as it is a natural soil purifier. It helps remove chemicals from the soil that may have accumulated due to the overuse of artificial fertilizers. Not only does the charcoal give the Midnight Mulch™ a deep, gorgeous black aesthetic look, but our best charcoal-based mulch is an organic mulch that helps rejuvenate and purify the soil.

6). Opt for Walking Trailmix™ for Beautiful Garden Paths

If you’re looking for the best mulch for walking paths, look no further than The Mulch Company’s Walking Trailmix™. This mulch is shredded into the size of a postage stamp and is perfect for walking trails, garden paths, and natural sidewalks. This is the best garden mulch for creating garden lanes and an organized, beautiful garden.

7). Use Chocolate Chip Mulch as the Best Mulch for a Healthy Garden

High-quality mulch provides value for gardens beyond its aesthetic appeal. During manufacturing, our mulch experts color Chocolate Chip Mulch™ with a liquid blend of iron oxide and granulated charcoal. Not only are both colorants free of chemicals or artificial additives, but both iron oxide and charcoal have distinct horticultural benefits. For example, iron oxide is commonly used in gardens if the soil is deficient in iron, and granulated charcoal acts as a soil purifier.

8). If Your Landscape Has Drainage Problems, Consider a Rain Garden

Rain gardens are much easier (and more fun) to design and build than complicated drains or high-maintenance water retention ponds. If there’s a spot in your landscape that collects too much water (especially if it’s occurring near your home), consider designing a rain garden. In simple terms, a rain garden is built below the level of its surroundings, so water will naturally run into it and provide nutrients for the plants in the garden. When choosing a soil base for the garden, The Mulch Company’s Raingarden Soil™ is the best soil for rain gardens.

9). Use This Secret Tool if You’re Going to Transplant Shrubs, Trees, or other Plants During Spring

Generally speaking, autumn is the best time to plant in Tennessee. Some things like Black-eyed Susans, Coneflowers, Hostas, Hydrangeas, and Lenten Roses may be planted and transplanted during spring. However, the Tennessee summer is very hot, and the soil is clay-based, making it difficult for recently placed plants to establish a root system before the heat arrives. To plant in spring effectively, use Gourmet Compost™, a smart gardener’s secret tool for creating a successful transplant. When it comes to landscaping material, Gourmet Compost™ is the best soil for amending a planting site.

10). The Best Soil Conditioner in Nashville Helps Acidify the Soil

Middle Tennessee does not have very acidic soil, yet many plants do well in acidic soil. Thanks to its natural acidity and unique composition, Piney Fines™ are a first choice when gardeners look for the best topsoil in Nashville and acidic planting soil in Nashville. The pH scale runs from 1 to 11, and Piney Fines™ are down at around 4. That makes for a naturally acidic soil base. Wise gardeners will often mix Piney Fines™ at 1:1 with their existing soil. Then, they’ll plant their tomatoes and other acid-loving plants in the amended soil. Piney Fines™ are a great way to produce healthy tomato plants, roses, azaleas, and rhododendrons without resorting to chemicals or potentially toxic additives.

The Mulch Company Promise

The Mulch Company produces and sells:

• The best mulch in Nashville
• Superior planting soils for all applications
• Organic compost for boosting plant growth.

As a local and boutique mulch yard, our family-owned and operated business takes great pride in delivering beautiful mulches and soils that are healthy and beneficial to gardens and lawns. If you have any questions about our products or would like to place an order, give us a call at (615) 356.2600, or visit our order page.