Jul 6, 2017 | Blog, Mulch News
With as wet a spring as we’ve had it’s taken a while for the soil to dry out. Now that your perennials, annuals & vegetables are established it’s the perfect time to mulch. Mulch is great way to suppress weeds, cut down on watering; it also keeps the soil cool and improves the soils friability as it decomposes.
When determining the best type of mulch to use you need to consider its purpose. If you are installing new beds our shredded bark or custom z mulch would add nutrients and improve the soil. These mulches are double ground to a fine texture & dark brown in color. If you have an established garden we offer 100% hardwood that has been color enhanced. The dye in the mulch allows it to hold its color longer & will not harm your plants or soil. For playground and ground cover we feature double ground wood fiber or wood chips. This type of mulch would take the longest to break down.
Don’t forget mulch also enhances the curb appeal of your home & helps increase your property value. Besides that it’s affordable & easy to apply.
Jun 27, 2017 | Blog, Mulch News, Summer
Summer is here. The mulch is in, the garden is growing, the flowers are blooming. Take time and enjoy all the hard work you put into your yard. But don’t forget to keep things watered. This includes your mulch.
Most mulch, including those from Three-Z are made from wood or tree bark. This means they are flammable. As the weather turns hot and dry, mulch dries out as well. Small, dry pieces of wood are perfect kindling. Many fires are started every year because a spark finds its way into dry mulch. The results can be devastating. Below are some tips to help prevent mulch fires.
- Keep mulch away from landscape lights or other electrical fixtures
- Do not discard cigarettes into mulch beds
- Keep mulch moist with regular watering
- Protect mulched areas from sparks from grills and fire pits
- Do not put citronella candles or torches in or near mulch beds
- Do not leave outdoor fires unattended
- Do not put mulch over electrical cords or wires
- Keep mulch a safe distance from other combustible materials
Dec 1, 2016 | Blog, Fall
Only in Cleveland can it be 75 degrees one day and 35 and blizzard-like the next. Due to an unseasonably mild fall, some of the yard winterizing may have escaped your mind. So now you may need to bundle up and finish up some of that landscape winter prep you’ve put off. (Some of you may be wishing you hung your Christmas lights much earlier, too!)
It’s important that you protect delicate trees and shrubs by wrapping them. There are several reasons this may benefit some of your more sensitive plantings. Wrapping keeps plants warmer; reduces moisture loss; keeps deer away; protects from ice damage; and reduces salt damage. Many of the home and garden centers carry these wrapping supplies. Now is also a good time to apply fungicides or dormant season pesticides to protect your plantings.
Oddly enough, leaves are still falling. Since many of the municipalities have completed their leaf collections for the season. Consider raking the remaining leaves and start a compost pile if space allows in a small portion of your yard. You can always place them in an old trashcan, as well.
As the weather continues to cool off and food gets scarce, deer and other animals will begin eating whatever plants they can find. If you’ve had deer problems, they’re certainly not going to go away this winter. Now is the time to protect your plants with deterrent sprays or physical barriers.
Three Z is your source for delivering the quality materials you need, while providing the service you expect. Visit our website to check out our wide assortment of soils and amendments, mulches, sands, aggregates, limestone, and washed gravels.
Nov 2, 2016 | Blog, Fall, Winter
Have you scheduled your fall furnace check? Is the outside water source shut off, and the hose drained and stored? Are you waiting for that last leaf to fall so you can officially put away all of your garden tools? Here’s something you may not have thought about – have you taken notes about your yard/landscape?
Now is the perfect time to make plans for next year. Take a moment to write down how many yards of mulch you used this year. Did you order enough or too much? Make a list of some of the plantings you’d like to include in your landscape in the spring; consider making a diagram, too. After you get through a long, hard Cleveland winter, your recollections of summer and your yard may have escaped your memory!
If you haven’t visited any of your local garden centers, make a point to check them out. Most of them are having clearance sales on nursery stock. There are some great deals on perennials right now. You can always purchase larger sizes and split them when you plant.
Additionally, it’s important to apply a fall fertilizer/winter guard if you haven’t already. Using this helps to build strong, deep grass roots for a healthier lawn come spring. The extra nutrients help to repair damage from the summer heat, drought, and/or activity. Most of the fertilizers are kid- and pet-friendly when applied as directed, so be sure to carefully read and follow the instructions.
Three Z is your source for delivering the quality materials you need, while providing the service you expect. Visit our website, http://three-z.com/ to check out our wide assortment of soils and amendments, mulches, sands, aggregates, limestone, and washed gravels.
Oct 11, 2016 | Blog, Fall, Gardens
It’s officially fall. Gone are the humid, hot days of summer. But that doesn’t mean you have to stow away all of your gardening gear just yet. In fact, the cooler temperatures and rain showers make the fall season an ideal time to plant new trees, shrubs and perennials.
If possible, go with smaller-sized, balled and burlapped trees and/or container grown plants. Some species do not adapt well to fall plantings because they’re unable to establish strong root systems. Many garden centers are offering bargains this time of year. But buyer beware. Before you opt to purchase a tree at 75% off, be sure to ask one of the garden specialists if that particular species is susceptible to winter damage.
In this region, try and have your fall plantings in the ground by mid-October. Any new plantings should be mulched with a solid 2-4 inches of a natural mulch. This will help prevent soil temperature fluctuations, which may damage the new tree. Available for delivery from Three Z Supply, sweet peet, shredded bark or custom-z are all great for new plantings. Remember to water thoroughly; approximately one inch per week, until the ground freezes. You may also want to consider wrapping the trunks of thin-barked trees in later November to prevent frost damage. (Remove in March.)
Looking for some more specific information on how to plant a balled and burlapped tree? Take a look at the Arbor Day Foundation website — https://www.arborday.org/trees/planting/balled-burlapped.cfm.
Three Z is your source for delivering the quality materials you need, while providing the service you expect. Visit our website, http://three-z.com/ to check out our wide assortment of soils and amendments, mulches, sands, aggregates, limestone, and washed gravels.
Aug 31, 2016 | Blog, Gardens, Summer
‘Tis the season…local vegetable gardens are bursting with flavor! While summer is rapidly coming to an end, many of the Farmers Markets in our area are in full swing, offering a variety of fresh, healthy produce. Three Z encourages you to consider shopping local, for a number of reasons, which we’d like to share. (Source: http://www.localfarmmarkets.org/home.html#states)
Shopping locally means you will:
• save gas, which means saving money, and create less pollution in your drive;
• pollute less, as the food does not need to be transported from a distance;
• eat fresher food, with higher vitamin levels, as less time passes from harvesting to purchasing;
• eat tastier food; again, as less time passes from harvesting to purchasing; and
• eat healthier food: since it does not need to be shipped, and it will be purchased sooner, less (or no) fungicides are needed.
So hopefully you’re giving thought to supporting a Farmers Market, but you’re not quite sure where to find one near you. For starters, you can Google “local farmers markets” and you’ll probably come up with a few hits. Or you can start with http://northeastohiofamilyfun.com/farmers-markets-in-northeast-ohio/. This site offers a comprehensive list of markets in the Northeast Ohio region, along with other fun and exciting things to do with your family. If there are several within driving distance of your home, consider taking the kids to visit a few on a sunny Saturday morning.
Three Z is your source for delivering the quality materials you need, while providing the service you expect. Visit our website, http://three-z.com/ to check out our wide assortment of soils and amendments, mulches, sands, aggregates, limestone, and washed gravels.
