Top Spray > Products

Home

Products

Services

Erosion Control

Depots

Contact

Employment

| Login

Mulching Benefits

Decreases Soil Erosion
Inihibits Weeds
Improves Drainage
Decreases Compaction
Protects Roots From Stress
Enrichs Soil Conditions
Adds Beneficial Microbes
100% Organic
Natural Insulation for Soil
Reduces Soil Moisture Evaporation

Mulches

Eco Bark™

Foothills Premium Mulch™

Garden Mix

NutriOM™

Applications

Mulch Applications

Terraseeding™

Topdressing

Our Aging Process

At Top Spray we are dedicated to producing the highest quality mulch and landscape products. Our research and development team has developed these mulch products to best suit our customers needs. Our QA program ensures the highest quality products are manufactured.

All Top Spray mulch products are aged for a minimum of 4-6 months. Why do we age our mulch?

1. To prevent unwanted diseases and pests - the aging is done at temperatures of 80 degrees Celsius and sustained for weeks. These temperatures destroy any diseases, pests, or weed seeds.

2. To prevent allelopathic toxicity - fresh mulch is high in tannic acids and may cause problems with plant growth. The aging process lowers the tannic acid to safe levels for plant growth. It is important to note that tannic acids occur naturally and pose no threat to human safety and/or health.

3. To stabilize the material - Fresh mulches may have a higher Carbon to Nitrogen (C:N) ratio and are prone to rapid decomposition. This rapid decomposition may tie up much needed nitrogen in the soil. Aging the mulch reduces the C:N ratio and stabilizes the mulch, making it less prone to rapid decomposition.

4. Creates Consistency - Aging the mulch turns the color of the bark mulch to a dark brown. This aging process keeps all Top Spray products looking the same from year to year!

The latest Product Test Results are available upon request for each product.

Mulch Application Tips

To effectively apply mulch to planting areas the following can be used as a general applications guide:

1. Mark out and measure the areas to be mulched. This should be approximately 10-20 times the thickness of the tree trunk. For closely planted species, a continuous mulch cover is the best. For widely spaced plantings, applying mulch in a circle may be more economical if weed control or grass is seldom used between mulch areas.

2. Apply a 2" to 4" layer of mulch under the drip line. Allow some space for the plant stem to move, so it doesn't rub on the mulch.

3. If the area is weedy and uncultivated, apply herbicide* when rapid growth is occuring and 3-5 days before mulch is applied. A furrow border or other edging may be used to reduce root invasion from adjacent sod.

4. Once the mulch has been applied, water it periodically for the next 2-3 days. After this initial application, maintain your mulch by watering it once a week or when necessary. This helps the mulch bond with the soil and keep it from blowing in heavy winds.

*As recommended by the International Aboriculture Society

The use of Landscape fabric/plastic underneath the mulch acts as a barrier between the soil and mulch, and is NOT recommended.

Over the years our experience has always shown why we shouldn't be using landscape fabric with mulch.

Problem #1. The fabric acts as a barrier between the mulch and the soil. This barrier is a slippery surface that allows mulch to slide and blow off much easier.

Problem #2. Animal and human traffic will tend to wipe the mulch off the fabric when walked on.

Problem #3. The mulch cannot breakdown into the soil. Over the years the mulch will decompose adding much needed organic matter and nutrients to the soil. With a landscape fabric in place, the mulch can not decompose into the soil.

Problem #4. The fabric will not lay evenly across every indentation in the soil. Instead it will form voids where water can carry weed seeds and deposit them underneath the fabric. Once this happens it is almost impossible to pull the weeds because the roots spread out underneath the fabric, and when they are pulled up the fabric holds the roots down.

To provide optimum protection against weeds, a mulch must have as much contact with the soil as possible. When Foothills Premium Bark Mulch or other quality mulch is used, the smaller particles settle to the bottom providing a more intimate contact with the soil.