Last year I used bulk much for all the right reasons, cost, composition and environmental responsibility. I did forget to think about the impact on my body. At 71 years old, I am going to try to find a good bagged much. My body suffered greatly! Oh to be young enough to do what my mind wants to do. i still care for my one acre yard and gardens by myself. Now. I monitor and adjust based on good judgement.
Boy, do I hear you! Have had trouble with my knees this spring (I'm 70), and it scared me. Who am I if not a gardener? I'm taking it easier, which means bagged mulch that's not nearly so good for my dirt but is much better for me. We do what we can.
When I moved to Florida my 3.5 acres was all sand. I started getting free stable waste from my neighbors who own horses. It is made up of wood shavings and horse manure. I compost it for about a month and apply it directly to my garden beds. My garden is now thriving. There are earthworms in the soil now and my plants love it. And most importantly it’s free!!
So, just a suggestion that would make applying the mulch a LOT easier that using the shovel, IMHO. When I had a much larger garden like yours I would get 10 to 12 cubic yards delivered and dumped in a big pile as near as possible to my landscaping area, then use five gallon buckets to carry it into the beds and spread it. It is very light, You can just basically fill the buckets by scooping into the big mound of mulch, and then raking down into the bucket with your hands enough to top off the bucket. I would then carry it in two buckets at a time and pour it where I wanted it around the plants. With your gorilla cart you could get at least 4 (maybe 6) buckets into the cart, wheel it to your area and then dump the buckets. I find shoveling a LOT more exhausting than using this method. Of course when you get to the bottom of the mound a little raking and shoveling are required to get up the last bits. A big tarp might be laid down first to assist in the cleanup.
@@charlesburkhart800 I am 72 and my garden is on a very steep hillside. The lawn are is flat, but everything else....not so much! I also use tarps a lot when weeding because I can drag everything down hill to the burn pile.
I’ll make a case for the tractor. We have a small Mahindra tractor with a front loader and backhoe. It’s has been the most helpful with gardening. We bought about 5 yards of compost and we were able to spread it out within 45 minutes of starting. And we have done some major landscaping with it. It will pay for itself quickly!!
Pamela Kelley not really. The grass bounces back fairly quickly. Plus most of the work we do for heavy duty gardening is early spring or fall time so we don’t worry about it that much.
I’m happy to see you use fewer plastic bags. I just learned yesterday that countries (China, Indonesia, etc) that used to purchase our recycling are now refusing to do so, and now recyclables will increasingly land in landfills. I’m now challenging myself to go as low waste as possible now that I know the recycling “landscape” is dramatically changing. Kudos for exploring other options.
If anyone needs a tractor you do. We recently got a new tractor with a little backhoe on one end and a bucket on the other..should have done it years ago! All those holes we hand dug!!!
That is what I use, we have a local debris yard for forest waste and I love it. Plus buying bulk like this is more environmentally friendly rather than all the plastic bags that end up going in the trash.
We line the bed of our truck with some cheap plastic tarps. Then when we get down to the bottom we just pull the tarp out and all the bits left behind come out. And as people mentioned a pitch fork works the best. We also back the truck up to the location if we can.
I do bulk mulch because it's more economical. However even though I have a bed lined I also use a tarp just large enough to come up the sides of the truck bed but long enough to hand over the tail gate. This way I can use a rake and pitchfork. I use the rake to pull it off the truck as it just slides along the tarp into my cart and the pitchfork to move the mulch from the cab to the tailgate. I also put a small tarp under the tailgate to catch the mulch that spills out of the cart.😊 Getting the last bit out of the bed is a breeze as I just pull the tarp(that's in the bed of the truck) out into the cart. This makes the job a little easier. Also I always buy a truck with a 6&1/2 foot bed so the front end loader can just dump into my truck without losing mulch or having to use the plywood.😉 It's the little things that sometimes makes a job easier.
I use a garden spade to "stab and pull" the mulch out of the truck and into the wheelbarrow. Also, I use large plastic containers (buckets), that I scoop mulch into, then set on top of the wheelbarrow full of mulch; haul to the flowerbeds, carry then dump the container mulch around the hard to reach areas and dump the wheelbarrow mulch in the easy to access areas. Also, I spread the mulch around with gloved hands. Great exercise! 😉😉😉
One thing I learned the hard way is to put tarps down to catch the spillage as you move the mulch from truck to ground. It helps with clean up. The compost should eventually improve the ph of your soil. For those asking about weeds, you can put a layer of cardboard down before spreading the mulch. It will suppress weed seeds, but eventually will break down so that the compost can work into the soil.
Hi Laura, I love the look of the compost. One Fall my mom and I composted my leaves and the next Spring/Summer I had beautiful black soil that sparkled like a diamond in the soil! Who knew? I didn't. Oh yeah, I'm on team tractor for Aaron and Benjamin.
So glad to see you using bulk mulch instead of using all those plastic bags!!! Even though the bags are easier to handle! You need a pitch fork to move the mulch - much easier!! We call it designer dirt !! 🤣
I'm a sucker for freshly mulched gardens too! ❤ I love the dark mulch too it makes gardens pop! 😊 Ps Russell in the background checking it all out cracked me up 🤣
❤️ freshly mulched flower beds. I would love to see time updates on screen when you do time lapse videos. I think it would be good for us to see how long it takes to accomplish these tasks!
Hi Laura and Family 👋As usual another fantastic informative enjoyable family. Watching your video brought back so many memories of when my children Richard 23 and Felicity 21 were young. I remember wishing for just 1 more minute for them to sleep so I could get my job's done lol. I remember carrying one on my front and one on my back in baby carriers around the garden cutting the lawn and weeding lol. Supplying them with snacks and cars, lorries and mud for my Richard and drawing for Felicity. They were such happy times, hard work but happy. It's great that you can combine your family life and your job all together. I hope that makes you feel complete and happy, I think it does from your feedback. You are such a lovely woman you deserve all the happiness that life has to offer you. Keep up the much loved fun informative videos for us all, as we love them. Love to you all Natalie & family 😁 xxx
Laura, I get bulk mulch from a local lumber company and I use 5-gallon buckets to unload. I lay the bucket sideways in the mulch and just use my hands to pull the mulch into the bucket to fill it then set it in my cart to distribute where I want. I can't say it's easy but for me doing it by the shovel full was a real pain in the asterisk! hehe!
@@margofriesen2175 I find a bedding fork with 10 tines works much better than a shovel for getting larger loads of compost (if it has any moisture in it). To each his/her own though
Guys, get a tined bedding fork ASAP!!! I move a lot of mulch; using the fork instead of a shovel was a GAME CHANGER! Love your videos! Thanks for all of your hard work. Coming to see you in Boston!
Absolutely love this video. I have always used compost because I have clay hard soil to battle with. Over the span of 2yrs in Pennsylvania my soil finally is soft with great drainage. And my plants are loving it. However, my dogs love it too..!!! I do find it, that by laying a nice THICK layer of compost, its suppressed my weeds more.
Mulched = tidy! I agree Laura. The bags are much easier to deal with. I’ve used both bags and delivered mulch. Bags are hands-down easier for a one-woman crew.
I have been adding bulk compost to my flower beds over the last 3 years. Like you say, it is a lot of work, but definitely worth it. What I also do is add a layer of cardboard on top of the soil, then add my compost layer. This has been SO great for suppressing weeds! And over the years, the cardboard breaks down adding more bulk to my clay soil.
I bagged mulch for years because it was easy, now I compost and have it delivered. It is a lot of work but the reward is great. Nice job it looks great. I am a 68 year old woman and I still shovel mulch , you two young kids can too. Looks great.
Reading the comments, you have some knowledgeable folks that watch your videos!! I love the compost. It sure makes it look so much better. I always thought working in a garden center would be fun and to learn so much about plants, flowers, gardening, etc. You are one hard working woman!! I think I would get the tractor. You all need one!
I have found my go to mulch. We are very fortunate to have a hardwood logging company 7 miles from my home. I got the premium ground last year and it was beautiful and breaks down well. Plus it is a local business which is always a good choice. We pick it up in the truck. Delivery is more than a load of mulch. I am old and spread it myself, don't trust husband near my flowers.
If I planned a project during nap time my 3 year old son would for sure wake within 20 min. I am so happy that you have productive nap times 😆 (happy = jealous. Lol but also very happy for a fellow mom) (I’m sure not all naps are perfect, but it seems like it since those projects are the ones we end up seeing, hence the perfect nap for a successful video!) Oh, and garden related: bulk compost is definitely the way to go. I would add the info on applying it when the weather is warm; if it’s burning hot from the garden center and you apply to garden (and some plants) you can “burn”/suffocate (not sure the right word?) but there are lots of implications for using bulk compost, so lots of additional video subject opportunities if you ever run out of video ideas 🤪 yeah right! 😆
I loved the video, as usual. ❤When do you start forming an arborvita into a spiral ( is there a preferred height) ? And how do you maintain the spiral look, if you want to do it all by yourself? How often do you prune your arborvita to stay in shape? Would you consider making a video about somthing like that? You are such an adorable and inspiring family....
I used to get several yards of soil delivered back when they dumped it on the driveway and then there's all that pressure to move it right away. I love the bags of pebbles, soil or compost they drop off now. I still have to use my wheelbarrow but it's cleaner. I love the woodland soil mix the best.
Laura I know you & Aaron are strong, energetic & capable to get the job done yourselves. However, you might check w/ your mulch company when they make your deliver if they will blow it on the beds for you. Most places like this will blow on whatever beds/areas you want, as thick as you want & (depending on how much you ordered) will leave you a pile wherever you want so you find places they missed you can fill it in! My Mom & I are both on the crippled side now, so this is what we have both had to do now. Looks great - good luck w/ the rest of your projects! Btw....how do you have so much rain over there when we are having so much cold drizzle on the West sid if the state?!?!?😅
@@LS-el7sf I have Hellebore & they have never hurt them. We usually have it done early enough in the yr that most things havent come up yet. Bit yes, you are right - things like hellebores & bulbs that already have come will be there. If you get a reputable company they will be very careful about putting it on around already existing flowers/plants. We have never had a prob w/ our company. Btw...our back yard is mostly shade so we jave a ton of ferns. They are very durable plants. I don't think it blows out as hard as one thinks maybe either?!?!
Good morning there. I been watching your channel since you were pregnant and I always love everything you’ve done in your yard.. I have a 1,200 sqmeter lot to fill in and you are such an inspiration to me .. Best regards ,, From the Philippines 🇵🇭.. 💕💕
I just use regular multi purpose soil/compost as I have a smaller garden (about the size of your last one) and the difference in soil quality is astonishing, the soil was hard clay soil, horrible to work. Now it is soft, crumbly and so much better at draining as the garden beds used to just flood and go boggy whenever a rain storm passed through!
I've been buying bulk garden soil for the last 2 years after moving to our new house. Soooo much cheaper. This year I will be scoping out compost and bark mulch to work on other ares of our yard. One thing to consider is using tarps. I put one in the back of our truck before the soil is loaded. So much easier to clean the box! I also use another tarp to put under soil that has been delivered. That way none of it is left behind or wasted and I can have it dumped closer to the areas I'm working without covering the gravel on our driveway, lawns, etc.
We buy bulk mulch by the dump truck and pile it up in a certain place in our yard. Then I use my compact John Deere tractor to get bucket loads and that seems less labor-sum and you can still control (similar to bags) of where and how much. etc. etc. I haven't found mulch I love yet either. We have slowly been converting our mulch areas over to black coal (its a shiney black rock look) since I liked the look of black mulch. The coal method (we're in year 3) is working out great! No more mulching those beds!!! *insert hand clapping*
Yea coffee with Laura, Aaron, and Benjamin!! I like that you are willing to try different things and that you give us an honest review. So fun to see Benjamin out helping and of course Russell supervising from the gazebo lol The mulch looks great and I hope it works out for you.
We actually got a truck to deliver a whole load which was way cheaper and doesn’t dirty the Ute 👍🏼 You could allocate a mulch area on your property and always have it on hand. No more plastic mulch bags 👏🏼👏🏼
I am fortunate enough to live near an Amish sawmill and have been using wood shavings from them as mulch for quite a few years. It starts as a light brown that changes to medium brown in a month or so. However it's much more rough looking than bagged mulch and your compost. I've learned having a truckload delivered (by a neighbor since Amish don't own cars/trucks) eliminates having to get it out of truck bed immediately and using a pitchfork instead of a shovel is a lot easier. It's all a process trying to figure out which works better for you! Last evening I watched one of your vids from the really bad winter, the snow was all the way up the sides of the plastic on the cold frame house!!! Like you, I've been enjoying this winter much more! Will be in 50's today and 60 tomorrow so I'll be working outside too! ❤️❤️❤️😃😃😃
I have a compost bin and my flower beds are nowhere as large as yours, but love putting it down. Did mine in the fall. Our winter in Jersey has been so mild I’ve been able to continue putting scraps in my bin. So excited when in all turns to black gold!
Love the look of the freshly mulched bed! Isn’t it funny how just that one thing makes everything feel so complete?! And I love seeing Benjamin in the videos. He is just the sweetest little thing!Great video to get me inspired to get out there and do my mulch. Thanks!! 🌞🏡❣️
Hi Laura, Aaron & Sweet Benjamin, Boy do I recall many truck loads doing the same.. It is a lot of work, but the results are so pretty to take in for all your efforts. Have a good day, Chris-Raleigh NC
Bulk is always my go to for my permanent groundcover I get for older gardeners. Although, maybe you guys can look into a trailer to pull behind your truck so your not dirtying up the truck lol. A trailer with sides would be low to the ground and not as back bending and breaking. As mentioned in a comment I saw, even a tarp would be good! Love the videos and the knowledge y’all share to people like me!
Looks beautiful! We have found that using a bedding fork works really well for scooping and spreading fine bulk mulch. It’s easier to bust into the mound of mulch with the tines and the scoop shape holds more than a pitchfork.
Anytime I see your little Benjamin it makes me smile. He was so cute coming down the stairs after waking up from his nap. Always like seeing your cat in the videos too. I like your idea of using compost verses mulch. 👍🏼
Great job on the mulching , I have the same feeling with bag verses bulk . I can see your delight in your mild winter . We have all shrubs in snow cover about 7 feet of snow. Watching you work at your garden is so nice 👍
We do bulk mulch all the time, way cheaper for sure. Just a hint if you already haven’t thought of it, I use the leaf blower to clean out the bed of the truck from the last bits of compost 😉. Thanks again for a great inspirational video!
Hi Laura and Aaron! What I like to do is in late fall, when all the leaves have fallen (I live in western Massachusetts) the lawn gets one final mow with an attached trailer that collects all the chopped up leaves and grass. It gets dumped at the end of my veg garden, and breaks down a bit over the winter. It covers nearly all my garden beds and has been a fantastic addition to my soil.
I'm 100% on board with you & Aaron picking compost as a top dressing. Another great reason for Aaron to decided which tractor with "turf tread" tires, bucket, and optional forks (a must) to buy. Try renting or leasing before buying, if available? Anyway, your soil will be amazing if you top up with compost! I think that's what I need to do in my flower beds since I do kinda struggle with them. Thanks for the great idea!
Bulk mulch is A LOT more work!! I used to love and hate when we'd get it delivered, but I can see the positives of compost. Nice to be able to get so much done so early! Looks great!!!
I will only use Leaf Mulch in my beds .... and where I buy it we can buy either bags or bulk .... I buy bags usually 185 .... lots of work however over the years I pretty much have it down where it only takes a few days .... I am like you ... I love working outside ... it feeds my soul ..... !!!
Hi Laura, Aaron and Benjamin! What a beautiful day for being outside! Those beds do look a lot better now. I like the look of the mulch, too. It looks like Aaron will need a tractor with a scoop on the front if you decide to go with the bulk mulch. It would make it so much easier for both of you. Thank you so much for sharing this!
We use baled compost to mulch and love the results. Feeds the soil and our plants grow better. Our yard is pretty small and even that is expensive! Bulk would be awesome and more environmentally friendly.....NO plastic!
You won’t regret the forest mulch Laura! It’s a little bit more work but you’ll have to fertilise your plants less. We use it at home and it is awesome!!
PLEASE READ! This is a really important topic about using compost as mulch. You and I both get over a 100 degree summers, and I toss back and forth btwn using a bark mulch or compost. I want something that is fine and easily mixed into soil, and that adds nutrients. I have seen you mulch this spot before, so do you rake up your mulch every year and then lay down a new layer? Did you and DO YOU amend the soil with compost underneath whatever you are using as a mulch? Or are you mixing it into the soil? I’m always torn on how to do this. Second, with compost do you still feel that it is as good at repressing weeds as some type of bark mulch? I have seriously been hoping you would talk in detail about this, especially the cons of using compost, because I grapple with what to do every year.
I have used compost for years... and I have a hard clary like soil. Over the span of 2yrs my soil has better drainage, the PH has significantly improved and my plants are loving it. I do compost in the spring and fall. I dont even bother with mulch.
I always wonder about using compost as mulch. It seems counterproductive to me. How will it suppress weeds if it is feeding the soil? It seems like the weeds would just grow right through it and thank you for it.
@@katewilhoft2893 I'm thinking the weed seeds get smothered by the compost layer. A lot of weeds need sun to grow, so no sun getting to the seed is what keeps them supressed? I'm sure no method keeps them completely away!
Both compost and bark mulch will break down over time and add nutrients to the soil. Bark mulch tends to have less nutrients but can lower pH as some mulches contain a lot spruce/pine bark which are more acidic. As for weed suppression, the key is to lay the compost or mulch at least 3-4 inches deep ( and more for better results) and do not rake after its spread out. Resist the urge to rake especially in the Spring as this will expose the weed seeds to air and light which is what they need to germinate. Apply the compost each year or two or three depending on your budget and even work on making your own. A local gardening professional in our area swears by this method. And research a method called permaculture gardening. It is a no till method of gardening that is gaining more and more popularity. I myself am going to try it in our vegetable garden raised beds this year. Wishing you the best of gardening luck!
Laura, you’ve inspired me to continue using bagged mulch. 😂 My back is not up to all that shoveling! More power to you and Aaron, though. The beds look great.
Laura, absolutely agree on the bulk verses bagged....more work. Your forest mulch has a nice look and 'feel ' to it. Often times the bagged compost I have used as a mulch has baked in the sun and created a barrier that I don't like and ends up shedding water. If I had a backyard full of leaf mold it would be ideal. Your garden looks fabulous. We still have snow and ice in the Denver metro. Great moisture!
it's amazing what a good layer of mulch does for the soul as well as the garden... i'm finding i can break up my mulch a bit right now that i applied last spring/summer and it's still looking nice... i would hope the forest compost wouldn't have the weeds that some composts do? i've been using the G&B mulch and just love it... and weeding is a breeze with enough mulch on the ground... love seeing Benjamin join in the fun - isn't it just the best to have that third little person in your life? i also wondered how quickly Aaron took the truck to be washed after you were done...
Bulk mulch Makes much more sense for all you go through during a season! And the color looks really nice! Love seeing Benjamin helping! He is growing up so fast! Precious times... Aaron needs the tractor! like you need all the plants. And it will help you too. Blessings to you and thanks for sharing your inspirations with us!
I use both. Compost and mulch in the fall and let it weather in nicely. in the spring i move the hey aside and plant in the compost. I will prevent weeds by placing newspaper on top of the hey
As my husband and I are old ( 56 & 58 ) we do bags. Like you say it’s way easier. My math freak husband thought the bags were way more expensive, but it was cheaper. Of course I don’t buy top of the line either. Love the videos as usual!
We switched from bag mulch to bulk mulch several years ago because it is so much more economical. Not sure if they have compost, my husband picks it up with the truck. Your weather is Amazing. Definitely giving me the Spring Fever 💖💖💖
I use Soil Pep as mulch. It's very fine bark mulch that helps break up clay soil and acts as a soil additive when it sinks into the soil. It remains dark, holds in moisture, suppresses weeds, and is good for the soil. I usually add a new layer once every two years or whenever specific spots need it.
Thank you for doing this video :) Can you guys do an update on how this compost as mulch worked out? I was wondering if it caused a weed growing bonanza? I like the idea that it will improve the soil, but I also like cedar mulch to reduce weeds. Your application looks beautiful, btw. Keep up the great work, Laura, and Aaron, and Benjamin, and Baby on the Way!
That does look good, don't know when I'll see the ground in my yard. We are expecting more snow this week in Minnesota. I know we need the soil moisture but I want to start working in the garden.
Nice job. I make compost and compost our leaves by bagging them and leaving them all winter to get snowed on. Also our rock yards here in Michigan sale the forest compost for about $32 a yard which is great coverage. Also many rock yards will bag it for a few dollars more.
I have just under 1 acre and I would not even consider buying bags of anything for a property your size. I need to fill in an area 20'x10' around my lilac tree's and I am getting a truck load Of soil. I use my own leaves every year to decompose to fill in any areas that look like they need any soil fill. Over the winter and until I mulch in the late spring, they are where nature can benefit from it for free. It is better to leave them on your lawn for a natural spring fertilizer, wait for it to dry out then mulch with the mower, it makes a difference for the roots and colour. Also pack the leaves around the base of smaller shrubs in fall to protect them and give them a fertilizer. I also dry out my egg shells and grind them up, put them in the soil late fall and early spring for stronger greenery to last the hard winters here.
Wow, what an improvement with the compost!! The wonderful weather is on your side, I still have snow & ice covering my gardens. Someday when the weather is alot warmer, I will be doing the same thing! You have inspired me!! 🙂👍🌿💚❤🌲🌿
Small tip: Using a garden fork instead of a shovel will work better. You would think that the material will fall through, but you can get deeper stikking it in your pile of compost, getting bigger clumps.
You and Aaron seem to work very well together. I think that’s awesome. I started using compost in some of my areas last year bc you said that’s what you did most of the time. I love using it, although we have really good soil, it’s been planted for many many years and I can see a difference in my soil already. I was digging recently and it even smells better. Anyway, thanks for the advice. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
That's a huge job I did by myself one year on my 3/4 acre lot. I live in Palatine, Il, near Henri Studios. I pulled our truck on the grass but couldn't get it in too many places, but maybe you'd have no problem. The grass did not get destroyed at all. I stood in the truck bed & even used my legs to push out the mulch because it was too hard on my shoulders (got to be careful over time; husbands rotator cuffs gone from hard work). On 4/1/19 it was too late when I mulched because the weeds still came. This year I'm closly watching the snow forecast in March so I can lay down Preen to combat weeds. My local garden center told me it can't snow heavy after I use it though. I just have one tough area in my large lilly of the valley bed that I'm concerned about. I mulched leaves over other beds last fall and each week I spread coffee grounds to help break down leaves. Good luck you guys. I hope my story helps in some way. ♡
I perked up when i saw this video because this past fall I put bagged compost in my front garden beds and really liked the way it looked and lasted in look. My plan this spring is to use compost over mulch through out the rest of my beds in the back yard.
We buy in bulk too. This might be a good tip... My husband puts down a tarp in the bed of the truck. This way he can pull out the mulch when he's half way unloading.
Last year I used bulk much for all the right reasons, cost, composition and environmental responsibility. I did forget to think about the impact on my body. At 71 years old, I am going to try to find a good bagged much. My body suffered greatly! Oh to be young enough to do what my mind wants to do. i still care for my one acre yard and gardens by myself. Now. I monitor and adjust based on good judgement.
Boy, do I hear you! Have had trouble with my knees this spring (I'm 70), and it scared me. Who am I if not a gardener? I'm taking it easier, which means bagged mulch that's not nearly so good for my dirt but is much better for me. We do what we can.
Your son is so adorable. I love hearing him talk...I love how he carries that knit bunny in his mouth! It's just so adorable.
When I moved to Florida my 3.5 acres was all sand. I started getting free stable waste from my neighbors who own horses. It is made up of wood shavings and horse manure. I compost it for about a month and apply it directly to my garden beds. My garden is now thriving. There are earthworms in the soil now and my plants love it. And most importantly it’s free!!
I have a stable near me and I get it for free too . Best thing ever and it really helped my plants .
Does it small bad til it's composted?
@@camilia3749 how do you transport it from the stable to your home?
Nice!
So, just a suggestion that would make applying the mulch a LOT easier that using the shovel, IMHO. When I had a much larger garden like yours I would get 10 to 12 cubic yards delivered and dumped in a big pile as near as possible to my landscaping area, then use five gallon buckets to carry it into the beds and spread it. It is very light, You can just basically fill the buckets by scooping into the big mound of mulch, and then raking down into the bucket with your hands enough to top off the bucket. I would then carry it in two buckets at a time and pour it where I wanted it around the plants. With your gorilla cart you could get at least 4 (maybe 6) buckets into the cart, wheel it to your area and then dump the buckets. I find shoveling a LOT more exhausting than using this method. Of course when you get to the bottom of the mound a little raking and shoveling are required to get up the last bits. A big tarp might be laid down first to assist in the cleanup.
Great ideas!
130 lb 67 yr old female here, I always use a wheel barrow. It's is much easier for me. I only use a bucket on the hillsides.
@@charlesburkhart800 I am 72 and my garden is on a very steep hillside. The lawn are is flat, but everything else....not so much! I also use tarps a lot when weeding because I can drag everything down hill to the burn pile.
i do the same. way easier
Yess that is what we did too!
Thank you for sharing family activities. It looks so much better, with much less plastic waste. A great way to stretch out the dollar as well. 👍
I was thinking the same thing! No more plastic bags for mulch, awesome!!
Just imagine how fast that could be taken care of with a tractor with a front loader! Team Aaron! Plus Benjamin will LOVE a tractor!
A tractor is heavy and would press the lawn down which wouldnt look good.
She is trying to cut the price and buying a tractor would end up with same amount if you calculate it 🤑
Since we farm, we have tractors and a skid steer. We rarely use them on the lawn as it is so hard not to damage the grass.
I’ll make a case for the tractor. We have a small Mahindra tractor with a front loader and backhoe. It’s has been the most helpful with gardening. We bought about 5 yards of compost and we were able to spread it out within 45 minutes of starting. And we have done some major landscaping with it. It will pay for itself quickly!!
Add stacking wood 😉
But does it press your beautiful lawn down??
Pamela Kelley not really. The grass bounces back fairly quickly. Plus most of the work we do for heavy duty gardening is early spring or fall time so we don’t worry about it that much.
I’m happy to see you use fewer plastic bags. I just learned yesterday that countries (China, Indonesia, etc) that used to purchase our recycling are now refusing to do so, and now recyclables will increasingly land in landfills. I’m now challenging myself to go as low waste as possible now that I know the recycling “landscape” is dramatically changing. Kudos for exploring other options.
We just produce way too much waste.
Huh that's interesting. Thanks for sharing
If anyone needs a tractor you do. We recently got a new tractor with a little backhoe on one end and a bucket on the other..should have done it years ago! All those holes we hand dug!!!
Composted mulch, the only way to go! Every year adding to the earth LOVE IT!
John Truex composted mulch? What’s that I don’t think they sell it in my area
@@tipanchev6760 I think he just means compost? Not sure, but that's my guess.
That is what I use, we have a local debris yard for forest waste and I love it. Plus buying bulk like this is more environmentally friendly rather than all the plastic bags that end up going in the trash.
We line the bed of our truck with some cheap plastic tarps. Then when we get down to the bottom we just pull the tarp out and all the bits left behind come out. And as people mentioned a pitch fork works the best. We also back the truck up to the location if we can.
I do bulk mulch because it's more economical. However even though I have a bed lined I also use a tarp just large enough to come up the sides of the truck bed but long enough to hand over the tail gate. This way I can use a rake and pitchfork. I use the rake to pull it off the truck as it just slides along the tarp into my cart and the pitchfork to move the mulch from the cab to the tailgate. I also put a small tarp under the tailgate to catch the mulch that spills out of the cart.😊 Getting the last bit out of the bed is a breeze as I just pull the tarp(that's in the bed of the truck) out into the cart. This makes the job a little easier. Also I always buy a truck with a 6&1/2 foot bed so the front end loader can just dump into my truck without losing mulch or having to use the plywood.😉 It's the little things that sometimes makes a job easier.
That was suppose to say bed liner.
Great idea!
I use a large tarp too. Super easy for clean up! (learned that the hard way after a load of manure for my vegetable garden LOL)
I use a garden spade to "stab and pull" the mulch out of the truck and into the wheelbarrow. Also, I use large plastic containers (buckets), that I scoop mulch into, then set on top of the wheelbarrow full of mulch; haul to the flowerbeds, carry then dump the container mulch around the hard to reach areas and dump the wheelbarrow mulch in the easy to access areas. Also, I spread the mulch around with gloved hands. Great exercise! 😉😉😉
One thing I learned the hard way is to put tarps down to catch the spillage as you move the mulch from truck to ground. It helps with clean up. The compost should eventually improve the ph of your soil.
For those asking about weeds, you can put a layer of cardboard down before spreading the mulch. It will suppress weed seeds, but eventually will break down so that the compost can work into the soil.
Hi Laura, I love the look of the compost. One Fall my mom and I composted my leaves and the next Spring/Summer I had beautiful black soil that sparkled like a diamond in the soil! Who knew? I didn't. Oh yeah, I'm on team tractor for Aaron and Benjamin.
So glad to see you using bulk mulch instead of using all those plastic bags!!! Even though the bags are easier to handle! You need a pitch fork to move the mulch - much easier!! We call it designer dirt !! 🤣
That wasn't mulch. It was compost; thus, the reason to use a shovel.
I'm a sucker for freshly mulched gardens too! ❤ I love the dark mulch too it makes gardens pop! 😊 Ps Russell in the background checking it all out cracked me up 🤣
❤️ freshly mulched flower beds. I would love to see time updates on screen when you do time lapse videos. I think it would be good for us to see how long it takes to accomplish these tasks!
So sumptuous! Good thick mulch appeals to me as much as a lush summer bed of plants.
Hi Laura and Family 👋As usual another fantastic informative enjoyable family. Watching your video brought back so many memories of when my children Richard 23 and Felicity 21 were young. I remember wishing for just 1 more minute for them to sleep so I could get my job's done lol. I remember carrying one on my front and one on my back in baby carriers around the garden cutting the lawn and weeding lol. Supplying them with snacks and cars, lorries and mud for my Richard and drawing for Felicity. They were such happy times, hard work but happy. It's great that you can combine your family life and your job all together. I hope that makes you feel complete and happy, I think it does from your feedback. You are such a lovely woman you deserve all the happiness that life has to offer you. Keep up the much loved fun informative videos for us all, as we love them. Love to you all Natalie & family 😁 xxx
Laura, I get bulk mulch from a local lumber company and I use 5-gallon buckets to unload. I lay the bucket sideways in the mulch and just use my hands to pull the mulch into the bucket to fill it then set it in my cart to distribute where I want. I can't say it's easy but for me doing it by the shovel full was a real pain in the asterisk! hehe!
May I suggest using a hay fork to get the mulch out of the truck. Works wonderfully and just slides right into the mulch.
Terri Newnam can you post a picture of a hat fork? I use a rake and a pitch fork.
This is compost, not mulch so a shovel usually works a bit better.
Firstvi ki. Hay fork aka pitch fork....
@@margofriesen2175 I find a bedding fork with 10 tines works much better than a shovel for getting larger loads of compost (if it has any moisture in it). To each his/her own though
Hay forks do work great for this. And compost piles. Especially when a bit wet.
Guys, get a tined bedding fork ASAP!!! I move a lot of mulch; using the fork instead of a shovel was a GAME CHANGER! Love your videos! Thanks for all of your hard work. Coming to see you in Boston!
The tines need to be close together too.
"Black Gold" that is what my Dad called it here on Cape Cod 😁 looking good out there 🌟See you in Boston 🌸⚓💞
Boston? Flower show?
@@johntruex March 13. So excited every year. My One and only trip to the City.lol✌
That's what I call my compost.
So Glad to see you moved away from bark mulch! Compost keeps feeding the soil!
Absolutely love this video. I have always used compost because I have clay hard soil to battle with. Over the span of 2yrs in Pennsylvania my soil finally is soft with great drainage. And my plants are loving it. However, my dogs love it too..!!! I do find it, that by laying a nice THICK layer of compost, its suppressed my weeds more.
Mulched = tidy! I agree Laura. The bags are much easier to deal with. I’ve used both bags and delivered mulch. Bags are hands-down easier for a one-woman crew.
A helper is coming tomorrow to spread the compost i've been collecting for a year. What a cool coincidence!
I love the look of freshly laid mulch!
I have been adding bulk compost to my flower beds over the last 3 years. Like you say, it is a lot of work, but definitely worth it. What I also do is add a layer of cardboard on top of the soil, then add my compost layer. This has been SO great for suppressing weeds! And over the years, the cardboard breaks down adding more bulk to my clay soil.
You have the cutest cats in the world. Russell goofing off on the wall was just precious!
I like the look of that mulch. It looks more natural to me.
7:30 The comedian is in the background! LOL
Thank you for sharing.
I looked twice and didnt see anyone.
@@wind571evergreen Look on the railing behind her. 4 legs and a tail?
a few seconds later 7:37
vmcougar in TN HAHA yes I noticed that as well. He jumps up at 7:13ish I think 🤔
Oh yeah!!! Im on my phone so small screen. LOL Thanks!!
I bagged mulch for years because it was easy, now I compost and have it delivered. It is a lot of work but the reward is great. Nice job it looks great. I am a 68 year old woman and I still shovel mulch , you two young kids can too. Looks great.
It does look great for sure, but their property is huge! Yikes!
Reading the comments, you have some knowledgeable folks that watch your videos!! I love the compost. It sure makes it look so much better. I always thought working in a garden center would be fun and to learn so much about plants, flowers, gardening, etc. You are one hard working woman!! I think I would get the tractor. You all need one!
I like how Aaron used a board to prevent the mulch from spilling over. Got to try that.
I get bulk compost as well...try a pitch fork with the tines close together to scope it out of the truck...works great!
Hey Laura your truck cover can help keep the mulch from blowing out of the truck. Bag mulch can be easier to store the bags for future use.
I have found my go to mulch. We are very fortunate to have a hardwood logging company 7 miles from my home. I got the premium ground last year and it was beautiful and breaks down well. Plus it is a local business which is always a good choice. We pick it up in the truck. Delivery is more than a load of mulch. I am old and spread it myself, don't trust husband near my flowers.
If I planned a project during nap time my 3 year old son would for sure wake within 20 min. I am so happy that you have productive nap times 😆 (happy = jealous. Lol but also very happy for a fellow mom) (I’m sure not all naps are perfect, but it seems like it since those projects are the ones we end up seeing, hence the perfect nap for a successful video!)
Oh, and garden related: bulk compost is definitely the way to go. I would add the info on applying it when the weather is warm; if it’s burning hot from the garden center and you apply to garden (and some plants) you can “burn”/suffocate (not sure the right word?) but there are lots of implications for using bulk compost, so lots of additional video subject opportunities if you ever run out of video ideas 🤪 yeah right! 😆
I composted all my flower beds last spring and plant to mulch them all this spring. It made a big difference in my beds!
Black gold! Glad you could put it down so thickly, to really feed the soil. Hope it works out -- all those plastic bags were bugging me! ;)
I loved the video, as usual. ❤When do you start forming an arborvita into a spiral ( is there a preferred height) ? And how do you maintain the spiral look, if you want to do it all by yourself? How often do you prune your arborvita to stay in shape? Would you consider making a video about somthing like that? You are such an adorable and inspiring family....
I used to get several yards of soil delivered back when they dumped it on the driveway and then there's all that pressure to move it right away. I love the bags of pebbles, soil or compost they drop off now. I still have to use my wheelbarrow but it's cleaner.
I love the woodland soil mix the best.
It looks great .What a difference.Benjamin is so cute.I love it when he’s in your videos.Spring is coming👏
Laura I know you & Aaron are strong, energetic & capable to get the job done yourselves. However, you might check w/ your mulch company when they make your deliver if they will blow it on the beds for you. Most places like this will blow on whatever beds/areas you want, as thick as you want & (depending on how much you ordered) will leave you a pile wherever you want so you find places they missed you can fill it in! My Mom & I are both on the crippled side now, so this is what we have both had to do now. Looks great - good luck w/ the rest of your projects!
Btw....how do you have so much rain over there when we are having so much cold drizzle on the West sid if the state?!?!?😅
I would LOVE to know if anyone else has done this in their home garden??? I’ve been worried about it hurting plants like hellebores and ferns?
@@LS-el7sf I have Hellebore & they have never hurt them. We usually have it done early enough in the yr that most things havent come up yet. Bit yes, you are right - things like hellebores & bulbs that already have come will be there. If you get a reputable company they will be very careful about putting it on around already existing flowers/plants. We have never had a prob w/ our company.
Btw...our back yard is mostly shade so we jave a ton of ferns. They are very durable plants. I don't think it blows out as hard as one thinks maybe either?!?!
Good morning there. I been watching your channel since you were pregnant and I always love everything you’ve done in your yard..
I have a 1,200 sqmeter lot to fill in and you are such an inspiration to me .. Best regards ,,
From the Philippines 🇵🇭.. 💕💕
I just use regular multi purpose soil/compost as I have a smaller garden (about the size of your last one) and the difference in soil quality is astonishing, the soil was hard clay soil, horrible to work. Now it is soft, crumbly and so much better at draining as the garden beds used to just flood and go boggy whenever a rain storm passed through!
I've been buying bulk garden soil for the last 2 years after moving to our new house. Soooo much cheaper. This year I will be scoping out compost and bark mulch to work on other ares of our yard. One thing to consider is using tarps. I put one in the back of our truck before the soil is loaded. So much easier to clean the box! I also use another tarp to put under soil that has been delivered. That way none of it is left behind or wasted and I can have it dumped closer to the areas I'm working without covering the gravel on our driveway, lawns, etc.
We buy bulk mulch by the dump truck and pile it up in a certain place in our yard. Then I use my compact John Deere tractor to get bucket loads and that seems less labor-sum and you can still control (similar to bags) of where and how much. etc. etc. I haven't found mulch I love yet either. We have slowly been converting our mulch areas over to black coal (its a shiney black rock look) since I liked the look of black mulch. The coal method (we're in year 3) is working out great! No more mulching those beds!!! *insert hand clapping*
Yea coffee with Laura, Aaron, and Benjamin!! I like that you are willing to try different things and that you give us an honest review. So fun to see Benjamin out helping and of course Russell supervising from the gazebo lol The mulch looks great and I hope it works out for you.
We actually got a truck to deliver a whole load which was way cheaper and doesn’t dirty the Ute 👍🏼 You could allocate a mulch area on your property and always have it on hand. No more plastic mulch bags 👏🏼👏🏼
Much better for the environment too. Less plastic waste X 👍🏻
I am fortunate enough to live near an Amish sawmill and have been using wood shavings from them as mulch for quite a few years. It starts as a light brown that changes to medium brown in a month or so. However it's much more rough looking than bagged mulch and your compost. I've learned having a truckload delivered (by a neighbor since Amish don't own cars/trucks) eliminates having to get it out of truck bed immediately and using a pitchfork instead of a shovel is a lot easier. It's all a process trying to figure out which works better for you! Last evening I watched one of your vids from the really bad winter, the snow was all the way up the sides of the plastic on the cold frame house!!! Like you, I've been enjoying this winter much more! Will be in 50's today and 60 tomorrow so I'll be working outside too! ❤️❤️❤️😃😃😃
We use bulk compost also for mulch. So much cheaper. Easier to work with and easier to plant in. 👍🏻
I have a compost bin and my flower beds are nowhere as large as yours, but love putting it down. Did mine in the fall. Our winter in Jersey has been so mild I’ve been able to continue putting scraps in my bin. So excited when in all turns to black gold!
Love the look of the freshly mulched bed! Isn’t it funny how just that one thing makes everything feel so complete?! And I love seeing Benjamin in the videos. He is just the sweetest little thing!Great video to get me inspired to get out there and do my mulch. Thanks!! 🌞🏡❣️
Hi Laura, Aaron & Sweet Benjamin, Boy do I recall many truck loads doing the same.. It is a lot of work, but the results are so pretty to take in for all your efforts. Have a good day, Chris-Raleigh NC
Yeah, but you're awesome. Thanks for your smile and happy gardening.
Bulk is always my go to for my permanent groundcover I get for older gardeners. Although, maybe you guys can look into a trailer to pull behind your truck so your not dirtying up the truck lol. A trailer with sides would be low to the ground and not as back bending and breaking. As mentioned in a comment I saw, even a tarp would be good! Love the videos and the knowledge y’all share to people like me!
Looks beautiful! We have found that using a bedding fork works really well for scooping and spreading fine bulk mulch. It’s easier to bust into the mound of mulch with the tines and the scoop shape holds more than a pitchfork.
Anytime I see your little Benjamin it makes me smile. He was so cute coming down the stairs after waking up from his nap. Always like seeing your cat in the videos too. I like your idea of using compost verses mulch. 👍🏼
Great job on the mulching , I have the same feeling with bag verses bulk . I can see your delight in your mild winter . We have all shrubs in snow cover about 7 feet of snow. Watching you work at your garden is so nice 👍
We do bulk mulch all the time, way cheaper for sure. Just a hint if you already haven’t thought of it, I use the leaf blower to clean out the bed of the truck from the last bits of compost 😉. Thanks again for a great inspirational video!
Hi Laura and Aaron! What I like to do is in late fall, when all the leaves have fallen (I live in western Massachusetts) the lawn gets one final mow with an attached trailer that collects all the chopped up leaves and grass. It gets dumped at the end of my veg garden, and breaks down a bit over the winter. It covers nearly all my garden beds and has been a fantastic addition to my soil.
I'm 100% on board with you & Aaron picking compost as a top dressing. Another great reason for Aaron to decided which tractor with "turf tread" tires, bucket, and optional forks (a must) to buy. Try renting or leasing before buying, if available? Anyway, your soil will be amazing if you top up with compost! I think that's what I need to do in my flower beds since I do kinda struggle with them. Thanks for the great idea!
Bulk mulch is A LOT more work!! I used to love and hate when we'd get it delivered, but I can see the positives of compost. Nice to be able to get so much done so early! Looks great!!!
I will only use Leaf Mulch in my beds .... and where I buy it we can buy either bags or bulk .... I buy bags usually 185 .... lots of work however over the years I pretty much have it down where it only takes a few days .... I am like you ... I love working outside ... it feeds my soul ..... !!!
Hi Laura, Aaron and Benjamin! What a beautiful day for being outside! Those beds do look a lot better now. I like the look of the mulch, too. It looks like Aaron will need a tractor with a scoop on the front if you decide to go with the bulk mulch. It would make it so much easier for both of you. Thank you so much for sharing this!
We use baled compost to mulch and love the results. Feeds the soil and our plants grow better. Our yard is pretty small and even that is expensive! Bulk would be awesome and more environmentally friendly.....NO plastic!
You won’t regret the forest mulch Laura! It’s a little bit more work but you’ll have to fertilise your plants less. We use it at home and it is awesome!!
Helpful and inspirational! Mulch is the instant renovator of outdoors.
PLEASE READ! This is a really important topic about using compost as mulch. You and I both get over a 100 degree summers, and I toss back and forth btwn using a bark mulch or compost. I want something that is fine and easily mixed into soil, and that adds nutrients. I have seen you mulch this spot before, so do you rake up your mulch every year and then lay down a new layer? Did you and DO YOU amend the soil with compost underneath whatever you are using as a mulch? Or are you mixing it into the soil? I’m always torn on how to do this. Second, with compost do you still feel that it is as good at repressing weeds as some type of bark mulch? I have seriously been hoping you would talk in detail about this, especially the cons of using compost, because I grapple with what to do every year.
I have the exact same questions! I hope Laura will talk more about it in her Monday video :)
I have used compost for years... and I have a hard clary like soil. Over the span of 2yrs my soil has better drainage, the PH has significantly improved and my plants are loving it. I do compost in the spring and fall. I dont even bother with mulch.
I always wonder about using compost as mulch. It seems counterproductive to me. How will it suppress weeds if it is feeding the soil? It seems like the weeds would just grow right through it and thank you for it.
@@katewilhoft2893 I'm thinking the weed seeds get smothered by the compost layer. A lot of weeds need sun to grow, so no sun getting to the seed is what keeps them supressed? I'm sure no method keeps them completely away!
Both compost and bark mulch will break down over time and add nutrients to the soil. Bark mulch tends to have less nutrients but can lower pH as some mulches contain a lot spruce/pine bark which are more acidic. As for weed suppression, the key is to lay the compost or mulch at least 3-4 inches deep ( and more for better results) and do not rake after its spread out. Resist the urge to rake especially in the Spring as this will expose the weed seeds to air and light which is what they need to germinate. Apply the compost each year or two or three depending on your budget and even work on making your own. A local gardening professional in our area swears by this method. And research a method called permaculture gardening. It is a no till method of gardening that is gaining more and more popularity. I myself am going to try it in our vegetable garden raised beds this year. Wishing you the best of gardening luck!
Laura, you’ve inspired me to continue using bagged mulch. 😂 My back is not up to all that shoveling! More power to you and Aaron, though. The beds look great.
And they're young! They definitely make me miss my younger days myself. Such an inspiration
Laura, absolutely agree on the bulk verses bagged....more work. Your forest mulch has a nice look and 'feel ' to it. Often times the bagged compost I have used as a mulch has baked in the sun and created a barrier that I don't like and ends up shedding water. If I had a backyard full of leaf mold it would be ideal. Your garden looks fabulous. We still have snow and ice in the Denver metro. Great moisture!
Your video was helpful as always, but what really made this video awesome was Benjamin and goofy kitty in the background. 💕💕💕
it's amazing what a good layer of mulch does for the soul as well as the garden... i'm finding i can break up my mulch a bit right now that i applied last spring/summer and it's still looking nice... i would hope the forest compost wouldn't have the weeds that some composts do? i've been using the G&B mulch and just love it... and weeding is a breeze with enough mulch on the ground... love seeing Benjamin join in the fun - isn't it just the best to have that third little person in your life? i also wondered how quickly Aaron took the truck to be washed after you were done...
Bulk mulch Makes much more sense for all you go through during a season! And the color looks really nice!
Love seeing Benjamin helping! He is growing up so fast! Precious times...
Aaron needs the tractor! like you need all the plants. And it will help you too.
Blessings to you and thanks for sharing your inspirations with us!
I use both. Compost and mulch in the fall and let it weather in nicely. in the spring i move the hey aside and plant in the compost. I will prevent weeds by placing newspaper on top of the hey
As my husband and I are old ( 56 & 58 ) we do bags. Like you say it’s way easier. My math freak husband thought the bags were way more expensive, but it was cheaper. Of course I don’t buy top of the line either. Love the videos as usual!
mulching in February...how lucky !! Aaron gets his tractor ...and you get your greenhouse !!
We switched from bag mulch to bulk mulch several years ago because it is so much more economical. Not sure if they have compost, my husband picks it up with the truck. Your weather is Amazing. Definitely giving me the Spring Fever 💖💖💖
I concur about the mulch in bulk. Now that I’m older I do go with bags or hire someone,
Looks awesome! Love that you're able to start so early! 🌿💚
I use Soil Pep as mulch. It's very fine bark mulch that helps break up clay soil and acts as a soil additive when it sinks into the soil. It remains dark, holds in moisture, suppresses weeds, and is good for the soil. I usually add a new layer once every two years or whenever specific spots need it.
Thank you for doing this video :) Can you guys do an update on how this compost as mulch worked out? I was wondering if it caused a weed growing bonanza? I like the idea that it will improve the soil, but I also like cedar mulch to reduce weeds. Your application looks beautiful, btw. Keep up the great work, Laura, and Aaron, and Benjamin, and Baby on the Way!
Looks really good Laura! I'm happy to see you using compost! It really does so much for your soil and I think it looks beautiful!
Laura: "Just a truckload to try out"
Me: Cries in my city apartment 💀
That does look good, don't know when I'll see the ground in my yard. We are expecting more snow this week in Minnesota. I know we need the soil moisture but I want to start working in the garden.
Nice job. I make compost and compost our leaves by bagging them and leaving them all winter to get snowed on. Also our rock yards here in Michigan sale the forest compost for about $32 a yard which is great coverage. Also many rock yards will bag it for a few dollars more.
I have just under 1 acre and I would not even consider buying bags of anything for a property your size. I need to fill in an area 20'x10' around my lilac tree's and I am getting a truck load Of soil. I use my own leaves every year to decompose to fill in any areas that look like they need any soil fill. Over the winter and until I mulch in the late spring, they are where nature can benefit from it for free. It is better to leave them on your lawn for a natural spring fertilizer, wait for it to dry out then mulch with the mower, it makes a difference for the roots and colour. Also pack the leaves around the base of smaller shrubs in fall to protect them and give them a fertilizer. I also dry out my egg shells and grind them up, put them in the soil late fall and early spring for stronger greenery to last the hard winters here.
Wow, what an improvement with the compost!! The wonderful weather is on your side, I still have snow & ice covering my gardens. Someday when the weather is alot warmer, I will be doing the same thing! You have inspired me!! 🙂👍🌿💚❤🌲🌿
Small tip: Using a garden fork instead of a shovel will work better. You would think that the material will fall through, but you can get deeper stikking it in your pile of compost, getting bigger clumps.
You and Aaron seem to work very well together. I think that’s awesome. I started using compost in some of my areas last year bc you said that’s what you did most of the time. I love using it, although we have really good soil, it’s been planted for many many years and I can see a difference in my soil already. I was digging recently and it even smells better. Anyway, thanks for the advice. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Benjamin is so darn cute! I love how he seems to really enjoy being in the garden with you guys.
Did Aaron grow up in a gardening family or did he get interested after marriage?
That wheel barrow is awesome! I need one like that!
That's a huge job I did by myself one year on my 3/4 acre lot. I live in Palatine, Il, near Henri Studios. I pulled our truck on the grass but couldn't get it in too many places, but maybe you'd have no problem. The grass did not get destroyed at all. I stood in the truck bed & even used my legs to push out the mulch because it was too hard on my shoulders (got to be careful over time; husbands rotator cuffs gone from hard work). On 4/1/19 it was too late when I mulched because the weeds still came. This year I'm closly watching the snow forecast in March so I can lay down Preen to combat weeds. My local garden center told me it can't snow heavy after I use it though. I just have one tough area in my large lilly of the valley bed that I'm concerned about. I mulched leaves over other beds last fall and each week I spread coffee grounds to help break down leaves. Good luck you guys. I hope my story helps in some way. ♡
I perked up when i saw this video because this past fall I put bagged compost in my front garden beds and really liked the way it looked and lasted in look. My plan this spring is to use compost over mulch through out the rest of my beds in the back yard.
We buy in bulk too. This might be a good tip... My husband puts down a tarp in the bed of the truck. This way he can pull out the mulch when he's half way unloading.