Mulch Services & Installation

Mulch installation is an ideal example of the lengths that Exterior Worlds will go to in order to bring quality service to each and every job. We pride ourselves on our dedication to excellence—from the big projects, like putting in a property-wide drainage system, including French drains, to the small tasks, like mulch installation.

In general, mulch is shredded old limbs, trees and shrubs that have been composted. In this part of the U.S., pine and cedar are the most commonly used material for mulch. The benefits of mulching are comprehensive. Mulch keeps moisture in the ground, which is crucial during our hot months—and helps keep your water bill down besides! Mulch reduces the unattractive growth of weeds. Correct mulch installation also can prevent erosion, something valuable during our rainy season. Some mulch is specifically designed to knit together and form a netted surface. This type of mulch is particularly advantageous where there is elevation, since erosion occurs there first.

At Exterior Worlds, we believe proper mulch installation entails:
• Using a premium mulch. We buy from the best providers in the area, people we have known and trusted for years.
• Not over-mulching. We often find that less-knowledgeable competitors put too much mulch onto the beds. This practice means mulch stacks too high up plant stalks, which can actually kill your plants.
• Using bags rather than transporting by wheelbarrow. Bagged mulch is easier and less messy to carry from one section of the landscape to another. It also eliminates the dilemma of what to do with any excess mulch and the temptation to over-mulch.
• Not—repeat, not—covering the weep-holes in the house’s foundation. This point is essential in Houston due to our unsavory distinction of being a hot zone for termites. Mulch in weep-holes invites termites into your home.
• Breaking up the mulch or turning it regularly. Our residential yard maintenance contracts offer this service which needs to be done every two weeks.
• Mulching twice a year. We install mulch so that there is no build-up around plants and trees, even when it requires spreading it with our hands.

Other types of mulch include gravel, glass and rubber, materials that are generally low maintenance and decompose very slowly. In particular, glass mulch looks terrific in a contemporary garden design. Mulch that has been treated with a bio-degradable dye is also readily available. We often recommend black mulch as we think it visually makes greenery more pleasing.

Because Exterior Worlds recognizes that each of you is unique, our services can be customized and specialized for your specific needs. If you want a single element added to your landscape design, say, an outdoor water fountain or outdoor room, we can do that for you. Or you may need regular garden services. If so, we can customize a contract just for those ongoing duties.

Our services are for serious Houston homeowners in upscale neighborhoods such as West University, Bellaire, Tanglewood, River Oaks and the Memorial Villages. Our expertise extends to the maintenance of gardens done in a specific style; for example, Japanese garden design, classic landscape design, Mediterranean landscape design.

We welcome your call at 713-827-2255 to discuss mulching and all your other landscaping needs.