If you're preparing your garden or lawn for spring, mulch may be on your list of tools and products to buy as soon as possible. Mulch refers to any material you lay over the soil to help preserve moisture, prevent weeds, aid in root protection, and so on. Not all mulch is created equal, and you want to find the right supplier you can consistently go to. Here are questions to ask your local mulch suppliers to figure out which is right for your needs.

1. How Much Should I Order?

How much mulch you should order depends on your needs as well as the size limitations of your provider. According to HGTV, if you're planting flower beds, you'll need at least three inches of mulch. This can add up quickly, so it's important to figure out how that translates into bulk order needs. Talk to a provider who can give you good customer service, so you can explain the type of work you do. They'll likely be able to give you a rough estimate of what type of bulk order you'll need.

2. What Type of Mulch Do You Have?

Mulch often comes in two categories, inorganic and organic. Organic mulch can come from shredded leaves, grass, pine needles, bark, and wood. The benefit of using organic mulch is its ability to decompose into the ground naturally. When this mulch decomposes, it adds nutrients and vitamins into the soil, such as nitrogen. As a result, buying the right mulch can easily improve soil health and help your plants grow faster while protecting them. Our mulch starts as hardwood trees and is broken down and made into a variety of colors including natural, red, black, and brown. Furthermore, we recycle tree and leaf debris in order to use the materials in our other products.

3. What Is Your Quality Control Process?

If you pride yourself on running an eco-friendly organic garden, the last thing you want is to use mulch that's going to negatively impact the environment of your property. You want to order mulch that is consistent in quality and lacks excessive contaminants. Ask how a company goes about testing and preventing heavy metals, pesticides, and other chemicals that can harm your produce, flowers, trees, and soil. Mulch is supposed to help your property by improving drainage, reducing erosion, increasing water retention, improving aeration, increasing nutrient availability, and reducing weed growth. When the opposite is happening, you'll know you're working with low-quality products.

4. How Quickly Can You Deliver My Order?

Are you a busy gardener or landscaper? If you're relying on mulch for your business or you have a large residential property, you may sometimes need fast orders when you run out. Therefore, it's essential to know what the delivery time is and if they're capable of emergency orders. You should ask how long the lead time is for seasonal spikes in demand. After all, many homeowners and landscaping businesses will order mulch supplies right before spring, as that is a time when people are planting gardens and flower beds. Many people will also gather mulch before winter to protect their trees and other plants from the winter frost. Our team offers same-day delivery!

5. What Is the Average Cost?

What is your gardening or mulch budget? This is an important factor to keep in mind, and you should make sure you find a supplier that can meet your budget needs. Play it safe and get a few quotes from different suppliers. A good rule of thumb is to contact three different ones and compare their rates based on the type of mulch you need, how much you'll tend to order, as well as the delivery turnaround. You should also ask if their rates go up for seasonal spikes. We're confident you'll find competitive pricing when you choose our services.

Mulch is an essential landscaping product that can help your soil and plant quality. When looking for the right supplier who can meet your needs to protect your landscape, look no further than our team. For four generations, our company has been reliable mulch suppliers in Long Island, NY, and surrounding areas. Contact Belli Contracting Co about your topsoils, mulches, and aggregate needs at any time.