The best times in the Augusta area are early spring (late February to April), before weeds and summer heat take off, and fall (October to November), after most leaves are down. Many homeowners refresh pine straw twice a year and mulch once a year.
Laying fresh mulch or pine straw in early spring gets a layer down before weeds sprout and before summer heat starts drying beds out. Many Augusta homeowners want their beds looking good before Masters week in early April, so spring is our busiest season for bed work. Book a few weeks ahead if you want it done by a certain date.
Heavy yellow pine pollen coats everything here in late March and April. Some people wait until the worst of it passes, but it won't hurt the beds.
A fall refresh in October or November covers the bare spots summer left, helps protect roots through the winter and gets the yard looking sharp for the holidays. Wait until most of the leaves have dropped, or have a leaf cleanup done first, so the new layer isn't buried right away.
| Material | How much to lay |
|---|---|
| Pine straw | About 3 to 4 inches when fresh; it settles down to roughly 2 inches |
| Mulch | About 2 to 3 inches |
| Around trees and shrubs | Keep it a few inches away from trunks and stems. Don't pile it up in a volcano. |
| Next to the house | Keep it below the siding and away from weep holes |
Thicker isn't better. Too much mulch holds water against roots and trunks and invites rot and pests.
Before any new layer goes down, pull the weeds, clear out leaves and old debris and re-cut the bed edges. That's what makes a fresh bed look crisp instead of just darker.
Late February through April and October through November are the best windows in the Augusta area.
Usually twice a year, in spring and fall. It fades and thins faster than mulch.
About 2 to 3 inches, kept a few inches back from tree trunks and the house.
Anything Exterior is a locally owned, licensed and insured crew serving Augusta, Evans, Martinez and Grovetown since 2022.
