MulchingA key to keeping sediment out of streams is to keep soils stable. Mulch can be an effective ground cover and means of keeping soil on your property, especially in shady areas where grass and other vegetation may be difficult to grow,. Mulch also helps protect the integrity of underlying soil, helps stormwater soak into the ground, keeps tree root systems moist, and provides habitat for small critters and microorganisms. Mulch should generally be applied no more than 2-4" in depth and never mounded against the trunk of a tree. Not all mulches are created equal. Cypress mulch should be avoided.
Benefits of mulch include:
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FREE Mulch!
Leon County Solid Waste Facility Entrance
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Leon County provides FREE mulch to Leon County and City of Tallahassee residents. Both coarse and fine mulches are available at the Solid Waste Facility on Apalachee Pkwy. Coarse mulch is also available at the County's three Rural Waste Service Centers. You do have to pick up the mulch (no delivery). It is recommended to call ahead to check on mulch availability.
Leon County Solid Waste Facility
7550 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Fl 32311 Phn: (850)606-1800 Mon-Sat: 8-5pm County Rural Waste Service Centers are open Fri-Sun and located in Woodville, Ft. Braden & Miccosukee.
For directions, hours of operation and phone numbers: Click Here |
Leon County Solid Waste Facility
County Rural Waste Centers
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FREE - Wood Chips!
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The City of Tallahassee will deliver large loads of wood chips/mulch for FREE through its utility program. The wood chips are generated from tree trimming and vegetation removal activities associated with management of utility lines. The service is free as it saves the tree contractors time and fuel from having to haul the chips across town.
The chips may contain various wood, leaves and twigs (likely all three) depending on the type of vegetation being removed on a given day. The program can not guarantee a specific day or time for delivery as it is dependent on where utility work is being done. You must be willing to accept a full load of material (~14 cu yds) which will cover approximately 1200 to 2000 sf of ground depending on the desired thickness of the chips. The chips are delivered with a big truck that needs some room and vertical clearance so make sure to identify a suitable location. Three samples of delivered chips through the program are shown below. Each pile had a variety of chips and mulch within but was suitable. |
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Volcano Mulching: Too Much of a Good Thing!
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Too much mulch can indeed be a bad thing especially around tree trunks. Follow the links below to read a couple of good articles about some good and bad mulching practices.
http://www.student.nvcc.edu/home/preddic/LawnGarden09/mulch.html http://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/2014/02/volcano-mulching-too-much-of-a-good-thing/ http://leon.ifas.ufl.edu/News_Columns/2007/102507g.pdf 
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Additional Information
Proper Mulching Techniques: An informative and easy to read two page brochure printed by the International Society of Arboriculture.
Keep It Covered With Mulch: April 14, 2016 article about mulch written by Mark Tancig at the UF-IFAS Extension Office.
Keep It Covered With Mulch: April 14, 2016 article about mulch written by Mark Tancig at the UF-IFAS Extension Office.
