How to Transition Your Yard with Mulch and Landscaping Soils After Winter

Winter can be tough on your yard. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures leave behind compacted soil, dead plants, and messy garden beds. As spring gets closer, it's time to restore your landscape, improve soil health, and prepare for new growth. One of the best ways to refresh your yard is by using landscaping soils and mulch bed landscaping products to retain moisture, control weeds, and enhance curb appeal. Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center has everything you need to transition your outdoor space after winter.

Assess the Condition of Your Yard

Before adding new mulch, take a good look at your yard. Remove any old debris left behind from winter like fallen branches, dead plants, and compacted leaves. Take note of any areas where soil erosion has happened, especially around flower beds, pathways, and tree bases. If you notice exposed roots or thinning mulch layers, it's time to refill your landscape with a fresh load of mulch landscaping products.

Winter’s freeze-thaw cycles can compact the soil, making it harder for roots to access nutrients and water. If your garden beds feel dense or crusty, they need aeration and fresh landscaping soils to improve drainage and overall plant health. Use a garden fork or aerator tool to break up compacted soil and make space for better absorption of water and nutrients.

Revitalize Your Soil with Landscaping Sand and Compost

At the end of the gardening season, organic mulches can be worked into the soil to improve its texture for the next planting season according to Oregon State University. But most of the time, the soil can be drained of nutrients. Adding landscaping sand and compost to your garden beds can help. Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center offers high-quality landscaping soils like screened topsoil and compost to increase soil fertility.

Mixing compost into your soil improves organic matter and provides the essential nutrients needed for plants. If your yard has heavy clay soil, blending landscaping sand with compost can improve drainage and prevent root rot. Before applying mulch, make sure that the soil is loosened and enriched to create the best environment for new plantings.

If you want to test your soil's health, try a soil test kit to figure out pH levels and nutrient content. If your soil lacks nitrogen or potassium, you may want to fix it with organic fertilizers before laying mulch.

Choosing the Right Mulch for Your Yard

Picking the right mulch bed landscaping products depends on your landscaping goals. Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center carries a range of options, including bark mulch, wood chips, and specialty blends. Here’s how different types of mulch can help your yard:

• Bark Mulch – Great for flower beds, designs with decorative landscaping rocks and tree rings. It provides long-lasting weed control and moisture retention.

• Wood Chips – Ideal for pathways and play areas, offering a natural look with good durability.

• Shredded Mulch – Works well in vegetable gardens and plant beds, breaking down faster to enrich the soil.

• Rubber Mulch – A durable option for playgrounds and pathways, providing a soft landing for children while preventing weed growth.

• Pine Straw – Great for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries, helping retain moisture while slowly adding organic matter to the soil.

Proper Mulching Techniques for Best Results

You should apply the mulch correctly so that it works best throughout the season. Follow these steps:

1. Clear Old Mulch & Weeds – If your previous mulch layer is thick and matted, remove it to allow fresh mulch to penetrate the soil.

2. Apply a Thin Layer – Spread mulch 2-4 inches thick to retain moisture and block weeds without suffocating plants.

3. Keep Mulch Away from Plant Stems – Piling mulch against plant bases can trap moisture and cause rot. Leave a small gap around stems and tree trunks.

4. Use Mulch Around Trees & Shrubs – Mulch helps protect tree roots from drying out, reduces lawn mower damage, and enhances the area’s appearance.

5. Replenish as Needed – Mulch naturally decomposes over time, so plan to refresh it in mid-summer to maintain its benefits.

Tip: A common mistake homeowners make is applying too much mulch, which can suffocate plant roots and encourage fungal growth. Stick to the recommended depth for best results.

Combining Mulch with Landscaping Soils for Optimal Growth

Pairing mulch landscaping products with landscaping soils creates a healthier growing environment for plants. If your garden beds are dry and compacted after winter, start with a layer of compost or topsoil from Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center before adding mulch. This combination adds soil nutrients, improves drainage, and supports healthy root development.

For the best results, aerate the soil before laying mulch. This prevents compaction and allows water to reach plant roots more easily. Using a mix of mulch and landscaping sand can also improve soil structure in areas prone to erosion or poor drainage.

Mulching Around Hardscapes & Pathways

Mulch isn’t just for flower beds—it works well around patios, walkways, and other hardscape features. Applying mulch bed landscaping products around stepping stones or gravel pathways can soften the look of your yard while preventing weed growth.

If you have decorative landscaping rocks, consider using a combination of mulch and landscaping sand for an aesthetic appearance. Kilgore Landscape Center offers professional materials that will complement your existing landscape design.

Seasonal Maintenance & Mulch Refreshing Tips

Spring isn’t the only time to refresh your mulch. A well-maintained yard benefits from periodic mulch top-ups throughout the year. Here’s a simple schedule you can follow:

• Early Spring – Remove old mulch, refresh beds, and apply new mulch to protect young plants.

• Mid-Summer – Check mulch levels and replenish any thin areas to maintain moisture during hot months.

• Fall – Add a protective layer before winter to insulate roots and prevent soil erosion.

Expanding Your Landscape with New Features

Spring is a great time to consider adding new landscaping features. Mulch works well alongside decorative rock, pathways, and xeriscaping elements. Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center provides additional materials like Mexican Beach Cobble, washed rock and flag stone that can make your outdoor space look even better. If you're looking to create new garden beds or add hardscaping, consider incorporating landscaping sand for better stability and drainage.

Where to Get High-Quality Landscaping Products

Kilgore Landscape Center offers a full range of mulch bed landscaping products, mulch landscaping products, and landscaping soils to help you transition your yard after winter. Whether you need bark mulch, compost, topsoil, or landscaping sand, our team provides expert advice and high-quality materials to support your landscaping projects.

By using the right high-quality landscaping products and maintaining them throughout the season, you can keep your yard looking healthy and well-kept year-round. Visit Kilgore Landscape Center today to get started on refreshing your yard for spring!

To learn more about available products or delivery information, contact Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center or stop by in person. We’ve been around for over 40 years and can help you select the best products for your yard.