Mulch or Pine Straw? The pros and cons of each

Lawn service in Hoover

Mulch or Pine Straw?
Pros and cons of each explained

Lawn service in Hoover
Lawn Maintenance in Helena, AL

Pine-straw and Mulch not only create great curb appeal but also boost the health of the content of your beds. Both options add organic matter to your soil that helps to make plants more resistant to pest and disease while providing valuable slow-release nutrients. They also help to retain moisture where it’s needed and help to regulate soil temperatures.

Here’s a list of pros and cons of each:

Mulch

 

Pros:

  • Mulch retains moisture throughout hotter seasons, therefore, helping shrubbery and plants
  • Creates a great fertilizer once it decomposes
  • Insulates during temperature changes

Cons:

  • Can become a home for insects and other pests
  • Can reduce weed growth, but requires a thick layer
  • Not sufficient for installation on slopes or hillsides where it may erode

Pine-straw

 

Pros:

  • Protects shrubs and low growing foliage throughout the winter months
  • Great for erosion control with less washing problems
  • Easy to spread to desired thickness
  • Eliminates weeds

Cons:

  • Creates a very acidic soil
  • Becomes slippery when installed on a slope or hillside
  • Requires replacement more often
  • Can become flammable in dry conditions
Check out our MULCH SPECIAL
Check out our PINE STRAW SPECIAL

Mulch and pine straw have their pros and cons based on their particular use. Pine-straw can be less expensive to cover a specific area but can become an eyesore and need to be refreshed more often. Whereas mulch contains more nutrients for the soil but tends to erode and requires more attention to eliminate weeds.

If you are interested in a quote or need some advice, give us a call! 

A homeowner’s guide for a healthy lawn

Homeowner's Guide for a Healthy Lawn


You don’t need to spend hours every day tending to your lawn to make it healthy, it’s easier than you think! Here is a great guide to obtaining a great-looking lawn.

The way in which you mow your lawn plays a big role in healthy grass. As a rule of thumb, you should cut your grass at a proper shorter height that’s appropriate for your grass type when you mow for the first time in the season. This helps to remove dead grass and allows sufficient sunlight in. For subsequent mowings, the cutting height should be around 2 – 3 inches (based upon the type of grass you have) and always make sure that the mowing blade is sharp.

To look its best, your lawn should receive 1 to 2 inches of water every week. This amount of water will ensure that the roots have enough water to grow and your grass will not dry out. Aim to water your lawn early in the morning as less water will be evaporated and your grass has a chance to dry out before it gets dark.

Aerating your lawn allows oxygen and nutrients to the roots grow healthy. Aerating your lawn involves removing small soil cores and helps improve the interaction between the soil and the surrounding atmosphere. Additionally, aeration helps fertilizer and water to reach deeper levels of the soil and also decreases soil compaction. The best way to aerate your lawn is to use a professional aerator, which is available at most home improvement stores. Aeration should be done in either the spring or fall when there is less of a chance that there will be weed seeds settling in the open spaces.

Finally, using a good fertilizer at the right time can make a huge difference to the health of your lawn. Fertilizing the grass in the fall will help to repair any damage that occurred during the summer and can also help your grass to survive during the colder months. Fertilizing in the early Spring can help “kick-start” growth and green quickly. Extra applications during the year also help your lawn to be in tip-top shape.

Sharper Image Lawns is here if you need help getting your grass strong and healthy. Give us a call and we’ll help you with a customized lawn program that works for you.