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Buying and spreading mulch doesn’t have to take a lot of time, money, and effort—especially when a mulching specialist is within arm’s reach! When you book a mulching service through Airtasker, you can expect your Tasker to take care of this labor-intensive yet crucial part of maintaining a garden. Here’s what a typical mulching service will include:  ### Picking and buying the right mulch  First, the Tasker may assess your garden and determine the kind of mulch it needs. Shredded bark is quite common and easy to apply, for example, but isn’t as nutritious for the soil. Household waste such as grass clippings, leaves, and compost is beneficial for the soil but isn’t great at preventing weeds. Shredded leaves and pine needles are also great for mulching. A thinner mulch made of grass clippings and straw may be easier to use and more suitable for vegetable gardens.   The Tasker can also help you figure out how much mulch to buy based on the size of your yard, the thickness required, and your budget. You can provide the supply budget and send your Tasker to the garden center. Otherwise, you can [book a mulch delivery service](category_url_404) to get the materials sent straight to your doorstep.   ### Preparing the garden beds Once the supplies are ready, the Tasker starts clearing the flower and vegetable beds. They’ll tidy up and other debris, then scrape off the old mulch. Next, they’ll check if your beds require watering and an application of herbicide. This is the best time to get the moisture and weedkiller in since the mulch will help hold them. Then, the mulching specialist may uproot any weeds lingering in the garden.  ### Spreading the mulch  Now, it’s time to spread that mulch! The Tasker may put on a layer that’s around 1-4 inches thick—just enough to keep the moisture in and keep weeds out, but not so thick that no water reaches the soil. Ideally, the Tasker should avoid creating “mulch volcanoes,” which can become hotbeds for pests, rot, and diseases that can spread around your garden.  Take note that for ornamentals, mulch should be at least 3 inches away from the base of each plant. But if you’re growing vegetables, the Tasker needs to apply mulch around the base to help them retain moisture and prevent weeds.  ### Mulching trees Tree mulching has many benefits, so you should consider booking a tree mulching service. A Tasker can spread mulch over the trees in your garden. This process protects young trees, provides much-needed nutrition, and reduces the threat of other plants and weeds. If you have an old or damaged tree, you can also [hire a tree surgeon](category_url_2920) who can safely and correctly prune and treat trees.