Fort Myers Beach • Lee County
Mulch Installation in Fort Myers Beach, FL
Mulch on Fort Myers Beach has two enemies: wind off the Gulf and water that has nowhere to go. Light, shredded mulch drifts out of beds during breezy weeks, and in a heavy storm it floats into streets, storm inlets and canals. The fix is a heavier mulch, a bed edge that holds it, and a layer kept to UF/IFAS's 2 to 3 inches, which is enough to shade out weeds and hold moisture in sand without smothering roots. Pull mulch a few inches away from palm trunks and shrub stems. Old mulch should come out before new goes down. After the surges from Ian, many beds on the island were rebuilt from scratch, and layer upon layer of fresh mulch on top of old material can end up too thick. Canal-front yards in Fairview Isles and Laguna Shores are worth extra care, since anything that washes off the bed ends up in the water.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in Fort Myers Beach
Laguna Shores
Bay Beach
Hibiscus Drive area
Plants and materials that suit it in Fort Myers Beach
- Cocoplum
- Firebush
- Simpson's stopper
- Coontie
- Pine bark nuggets
- Shredded hardwood mulch
Questions
How deep should mulch be in a beach yard?
UF/IFAS recommends 2 to 3 inches around established plants and no more than 3 inches. Deeper mulch can keep rain and irrigation from reaching roots in sandy soil. Keep it pulled back from trunks and stems so bark stays dry.
Which mulch stays put in the wind here?
Chunkier mulches and those that knit together as they settle hold better than fine, light material. A bed edge such as curbing helps too. In an exposed spot right on the Gulf, rock or a dense native groundcover may be the better choice than mulch.
Should I put new mulch over the old?
Rake out or remove what is left first. Old mulch breaks down into a fine layer that sheds water and can build up past a healthy depth. Starting clean also lets you see whether invasive seedlings like Brazilian pepper have started in the bed.