Landscaping

Every year, people start getting spring fever and decide, its time to spruce up the lawn. This ambition probably has several driving forces behind it.
1. Its spring, that’s just what you are supposed to do.
2. I don’t want to get a nasty note from the HOA.
3. I want to get the “Yard of the Month” before the neighbors do.
This post is for all you aggressive mulch slingers out there; lets pull it back a bit. I love mulch as much as the next guy, but I am careful about where I put it in relation to the home. I try to not put mulch directly against the home for a couple of reasons. First, when mulch is directly against the home, it is an open invitation for pest (termites, ants, etc.) to make their way into the home’s wall cavity and/or interior. I know these pest can make there way in that home if they so desire, but why should we make it easier for them? Second, much has a tendency to hold moisture more that other forms of landscaping. Over a period of time moisture against a foundation wall will lead to other problems to the home’s structure.
If you do decide to place mulch around the home; I recommend you that leave a healthy space (approximately 6” or more) between the top of the mulch and the bottom of the exterior siding. For homes with a masonry (brick, stone, etc.) exterior cladding, use you best judgment to have that space below bottom of the floor structure. This space is to allow visual inspection of pest tubes, assist in the prevention of moisture wicking into the wooden floor and wall structure, and observation and prevention of other foundation issues.
Even though its June, a couple months past the spring fever, it is never too late to help out your home and pull the mulch back a bit.