Message from Headquarters
Tacoma/Western WA Customers:
Fall is officially here, and with the change in season comes an important opportunity to prepare your landscape for the colder, wetter months ahead. Now is an ideal time to install or refresh bark, mulch, compost, wood chips, or other organic materials before prolonged cold, frost, and winter precipitation set in.
We are continuing to operate a full crew into the fall season and are currently scheduling projects up to one week out. Fall is also an excellent time to complete landscape projects before winter weather arrives and to take advantage of our continued availability and competitive seasonal pricing.
Contact:
John Ross - Branch Manager
Jeffrey Cravalho - Director of Administration
Post Falls/Inland NW customers:
The time has officially arrived; the same great service provided to Western Washington is now available to you! The new location is at:
Suite A
Post Falls, ID 83815
The bins are full, and we are ready for orders.
Check the webpage for updated product descriptions. For quotes and scheduling, call 208-512-4871 Email inwsales@aardvarkbark.com
Contact:
Jordan Saner - Operations Foreman
Why We Apply Bark and Organic Materials to Planter Beds
When asked why bark or mulch is used in landscape beds, most people identify two primary reasons:
- It significantly improves the appearance of the landscape compared to exposed soil.
- It helps suppress weeds and inhibits the growth of invasive species.
Both are important benefits. However, a critical and often overlooked function of bark is soil and root protection, particularly as we transition into winter.
Our approach is based on what the earth naturally does in undisturbed environments. Nature maintains an organic layer on the surface of the soil for a reason—it works. Our goal is to replicate that process in your landscape.
Preparing Your Landscape for Winter
Cold Temperatures and Frost
As fall transitions into winter, soil becomes increasingly exposed to cold temperatures and repeated freeze-thaw cycles. A layer of bark or mulch provides insulation at the soil surface, helping moderate temperature fluctuations and protect plant and tree root systems from the effects of freezing conditions.
Installing your material in the fall allows that protective layer to be established before the coldest weather arrives.
Moisture Retention and Erosion Control
Fall and winter bring increased rainfall and, in some areas, snow and freezing conditions. Exposed soil is more susceptible to erosion, runoff, and compaction during periods of heavy precipitation.
Bark and other organic materials help absorb and disperse moisture, reducing runoff and helping protect the nutrient-rich top layer of soil that supports healthy root systems.
Root Protection During Dormancy
While many plants become dormant during the colder months, their root systems remain vulnerable to freezing temperatures, soil movement, and erosion.
Maintaining an appropriate organic layer around plants and trees provides an additional layer of protection throughout the winter and helps create better conditions for healthy growth when spring returns.
Recommended Application Depth
Based on practical field experience, a maintained 2–3 inch layer of bark or other organic material is ideal for providing insulation, moisture regulation, weed suppression, and soil protection.
Fall is an especially good time to evaluate existing beds and determine whether they have thinned out enough over the growing season to benefit from a fresh application.
Final Notes
Fall is the time to prepare—not wait for winter to arrive. Installing or refreshing bark and other organic materials now can help protect your landscape through the cold and wet months while also improving its appearance heading into winter.
With our full fall crew operating and projects currently being scheduled up to one week out, now is a good time to request a quote and get your landscape prepared before winter weather sets in.
Please contact our office to request a quote or to schedule your project.