Estero • Lee County
Mulch Installation in Estero, FL
The Village of Estero runs a stormwater education program that keeps returning to one idea: what leaves a yard ends up in the Estero River and Estero Bay, which the state set aside in 1966 as Florida's first aquatic preserve. The Village warns that grass clippings and leaves in storm drains cause blockages, localized flooding and extra nutrients that feed algae. Mulch belongs on that list when it is spread too thick or too close to a curb. Hodges removes old, compacted mulch, lays fresh material at the 2 to 3 inches UF/IFAS recommends, and keeps it below the bed edge and well back from trunks. On a lot that backs onto a community lake, the downhill side of a bed is where mulch is most likely to wash out, so that edge gets the closest attention.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in Estero
The Cascades
Coastal Village
Rookery Pointe
Plants and materials that suit it in Estero
- Firebush
- Cocoplum
- Simpson's stopper
- Fakahatchee grass
- Shredded eucalyptus or melaleuca mulch
- Pine straw
Questions
How much mulch should go down in an Estero bed?
About 2 to 3 inches, following UF/IFAS. Old mulch is raked out first so the depth does not build up. Mulch should be pulled back from tree trunks and shrub stems, since wood piled against bark holds moisture and can cause rot.
Does mulch near the lake behind my house cause problems?
It can wash in during heavy rain and add organic material and nutrients to the water. The Village recommends keeping yard waste out of waterways and drains. Keeping mulch low and a little back from the slope toward the lake helps.
Can I fertilize when the new mulch goes in?
Not in summer. The Village asks residents not to apply nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizer from June 1 to September 30, and to keep fertilizer at least 10 feet from waterways. Mulching itself can be done any time of year.