Mulch Installation & Bed Refresh

Mulch is the highest-impact, lowest-cost thing you can do to a tired yard. Done properly it's not just dumping bark — it's re-cutting the bed edges, pulling what's grown in, and laying the right depth of the right material.

What's included

• Re-cut a clean spade edge or install steel edging on every bed
• Weed and clean out the existing beds
• Weed barrier fabric where it makes sense (around shrubs, not around perennials)
• Fresh bark or shredded wood mulch, 5–8 cm deep, kept off plant stems
• Haul the old material and debris

How often mulch needs refreshing

Wood and bark mulch breaks down and fades over 2–3 years — that's it doing its job, feeding the soil. Most yards get a top-up every second spring. Rock doesn't break down, but it's more expensive up front and harder to plant into. Rock vs. mulch →

How much does mulch installation cost?

A bed refresh with fresh mulch typically runs $500–$2,500 depending on how many beds, how overgrown they are, and whether edging is added. New bed construction is quoted separately.

Bark vs. shredded wood mulch

Both work; the choice is mostly look and budget. Shredded wood mats together, so it holds better on a slope and doesn't wash out in a downpour — usually the cheaper option. Bark nuggets stay looser and lighter in colour, and read as more finished around a front entrance, but float and drift in heavy rain or on a steep bed. We'll tell you which suits the spot rather than just upselling the pricier one.

Signs a bed is due for a refresh

• Mulch has faded to grey and thinned below 3–4 cm
• Weeds are pushing through faster than they used to
• The bed edge has grown over or disappeared under grass
• You can see landscape fabric or bare soil through the mulch

Catching it at this stage is a straightforward top-up. Wait a couple more years and the beds usually need weeding and edging from scratch, which costs more.

Common questions

How deep should mulch be?

5–8 cm. Less than that and weeds push through; more than about 10 cm and it can starve roots of air. Keep it off the stems and trunks.

Do I need fabric under mulch?

Around shrubs and in low-planting areas, yes. In perennial beds, no — fabric fights you every time you plant. We use it selectively.

Can you match the mulch colour I already have?

Usually, yes — bring us a sample or a photo in good light and we'll match it as closely as the supplier's stock allows. Dyed mulch fades over a season regardless of colour, so an exact match a year later is never guaranteed.

Can you just top up what's there instead of redoing the whole bed?

Yes, if the existing base and edge are still sound — a top-up is faster and cheaper. We'll tell you honestly if the bed actually needs a full weed-out and re-edge instead of just more mulch on top of a problem.