Choosing your mulch
There are a few good options in Winnipeg. The right one mostly comes down to the look you want and where the bed is located.
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Cedar
A natural look that holds its colour well and breaks down slowly. A popular choice around front entries and seating areas.
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Dyed black or brown
Gives you a clean, modern look. The colour will eventually fade, especially in full sun.
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Natural bark and wood chips
A more natural, budget-friendly option that's also good for adding organic matter back into the soil.
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Rubber
We don't install it. It doesn't improve the soil and can be a pain to remove later.
- Building since
- 2014
- Rated on Google
- 5.0
- Working across
- Winnipeg and southern Manitoba
Where mulch works and where it doesn’t
If you're growing plants, mulch is usually a good fit. It helps hold moisture during Winnipeg's dry stretches, protects the soil, and gives perennial and shrub roots some insulation through our winter.
There are a few places where we'd recommend something else. Steep slopes and areas under downspouts can wash mulch away. Rock beds usually work better there. Along driveways and walkways, mulch can also end up scattered around by snow removal.
For areas where you're not growing anything and don't want to maintain the bed, rock can make more sense.
How we build a mulch bed on Winnipeg clay
Whether we're starting fresh or cleaning up a mulch bed that's been neglected for years, we follow the same basic process.
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Strip it back
We remove the sod, weeds, old matted mulch, and any plastic or fabric underneath.
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Check the grade
The bed needs to drain away from your house. If the clay is holding water or the grade is sending it toward the foundation, we fix that first.
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Improve the soil where needed
Winnipeg yards tend to have heavy clay, so we'll work in compost or soil mix where you're planting to give things a better place to grow.
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Set the edge
A proper edge keeps mulch in the bed and grass out of it, so the whole thing stays clean as the seasons go by.
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Spread about 3 inches of mulch
That's enough to help hold moisture and keep weeds down. We also keep it away from tree trunks, shrubs, and your siding.
Why we don’t put fabric under mulch
We don't install landscape fabric under mulch. Once the mulch breaks down, weeds can still grow in the material sitting on top of the fabric, and their roots can become tangled in it.
Mulch also works its way into the soil as it breaks down, which is a good thing. Fabric gets in the way of that. We'd rather build the bed properly and maintain the right mulch depth than put down a sheet you'll eventually have to remove.
Topping up mulch beds you already have
Mulch breaks down over time, so most beds need a fresh layer every 1 to 2 years.
If the bed itself is still in good shape, we'll usually clean it up, deal with the weeds, and add fresh mulch. If there's old fabric underneath, the bed has sunk, or the existing mulch has become badly matted, we'll recommend rebuilding it instead.
And if your beds are already in good shape and you just need a fresh load of mulch spread, we'll be upfront with you: a lawn care crew may be able to do that for less. We're a better fit when the bed itself needs some work.
What mulch costs in Winnipeg
Installed mulch typically runs around $80 to $250 per cubic yard, including the material, spreading, and clean-up. One yard covers roughly 100 square feet at 3 inches deep.
A typical front bed might run $300 to $800, while a larger full-property refresh can be around $600 to $2,200.
The biggest things that affect the price are:
- Removing old fabric, plastic, or matted mulch
- Regrading or improving the soil
- Installing new edging
- The type of mulch you choose
- How easy it is to get to the backyard
Mulch bed questions
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How deep should mulch be?
We recommend about 3 inches. That's enough to help with weeds and moisture without piling it too deep around your plants.
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How often does mulch need to be replaced?
Most beds need a top-up every 1 to 2 years. How quickly it breaks down depends on the type of mulch and how much sun and moisture the bed gets.
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Can you mulch over what's already there?
Usually, yes. We'll clean out the weeds and break up any matted material first. If there's fabric or plastic underneath, we'll remove it.
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Does dyed mulch fade, and is the dye safe?
Yes, dyed mulch will eventually fade, especially in full sun. The colourants we use are water- or vegetable-based and are safe around plants, kids, and pets.
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Will mulch bring ants up against my house?
Carpenter ants are drawn to damp wood. Mulch on its own doesn't attract them. We keep mulch below your siding and away from the house, and make sure the grade drains away from the foundation.
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When's the best time to mulch?
Anytime the ground is thawed and workable, usually from May through October. Spring is the busiest time, so it's worth getting on the schedule early if you want your beds looking fresh before summer.
What Winnipeg Homeowners Say
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Great experience working with Jordan and Heavyscape. They landscaped both my front and back yards, installed pavers, built a fence, and constructed new stairs and a landing. Throughout the project they were flexible and thorough, approachable and easy to work with. Communication was excellent, the price was fair, and great quality of the work. Highly recommended.
mupayet
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Great experience with Jordan and his team. Communication was good and work on project was professional. Highly recommended. Would work with again.
Paul Laporte
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Great job! Good experience with planning, Jordan made improvements to our plan and the function is even better than we thought. Crew was friendly, organized and fast. Very happy with the experience and quality of the work.
CJ T