Posted at: 06/03/2012 8:39 PM
By: Jim Peterson

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Angie's List Report: Adding Mulch To Your Outdoor Project

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Adding mulch to your landscaping design not only makes your yard look a little nicer, there's also a few side benefits that come with the task.

Mulch is a great do-it-yourself project for any walkway, flower bed, or garden. These little chunks of wood not only spruce up your landscape, but they also provide essential moisture and nutrients that help fight off weeds and pests.

"Typically mulch lasts about 9 to 12 months. It breaks down naturally releasing nutrients down into the soil. Dyed mulch tends to hold a little bit better than regular hardwood mulch. It holds its color a little bit more," said Gregg Pulley a landscaper. And another bonus, it's relatively cheap.

"When buying mulch, you can buy it by the bag, or in bulk and it's usually about $20 to $30 per yard. If you are buying in bulk, keep in mind you're also going to have a delivery fee; consider joining forces with your neighbors and having a large order delivered that you can share, " said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List.

There are several types of mulch out there to choose from. Brown and black are two of the more popular colors because they are easy to blend in with most landscapes. The only setback, the cost. Both averages $33.50 per yard.

Red is the color of choice if you want your landscaping to stand out. But be ready to pay the price. Red also averages $33.50 per yard.

One of the cheaper types of mulch is rubber tire. You will often find this type on playgrounds. Average price, $8.50 per bag.

Once you have a general idea of what type of mulch you want, how much should you buy?

"The length times the width will find the area, and then what you want to do is divide by 100. We apply our mulch at 3 inches, which is the proper depth. And one yard of mulch will cover 100 square feet, 3 inches deep, " said Pulley.

There are also several consistencies of mulch to choose from, including coarse, shredded, and fine. The type of consistency will determine how fast the mulch decomposes, with the finer coarse mulches decomposing the fastest.