The Melcourt Amenity Guide - Correct Installation

Mulches

Newly Planted Areas

Before planting, the soil surface should be raked over, removing any large stones, building rubble and debris. It is also very important to remove any perennial weeds. If the soil surface is not even, it will be extremely difficult to install and to subsequently check the mulch spreading depth.

Side View

before levelling

Side View

after levelling and
removal of debris

Apply the mulch evenly onto the soil surface, to the minimum spreading depth as set out in the Contract Bill of Quantities, plus the stated percentage as shown for natural settlement, after 30 days.

eg. Melcourt Amenity Bark Mulch

Side View

About 30 days after spreading, the mulch should have naturally settled by the settlement depth above, to give the minimum desired settled depth.

Side View

Note

The mulch should be applied after completion of planting, not before.

The mulch should not be used to 'even out' areas where the soil has not been properly levelled, as it will be difficult to check the finished spreading depth. If this is done however, the minimum recorded depth should be taken as the actual minimum depth, not the average depth.

Side View

If the settled mulching depth was required at 75mm, but only installed by the contractor at 65mm, this would represent a 13% cost saving to the contractor.

When the area immediately adjacent to the planted items are to be mulched, rake level the soil within the immediate vicinity only.

Install mulch as above.

Side View

Existing Planted Areas

Usually this situation occurs when:-

a mulch was not applied immediately after the original planting.

the mulch did not perform as required. This could be because the wrong grade was selected, or it was not correctly installed.

the overall appearance of the landscaped area needs enhancing.

The following procedure should be followed:-

As above for Newly Planted areas.

Remove any unwanted weeds by either hand hoeing or chemical spraying.

During regular maintenance work (to replace dead plants, pruning or general 'tidying-up'), top up any bare or thin patches with the same grade of mulch, as used originally.

How to Accurately Check the Mulch Depth

The mulch depth should be checked about 30 days after installation, using the following simple procedure:-

Carefully remove the mulch material, from to the soil surface, using a garden spade, rake or similar tool.

Ensure that the excavated mulch is put into one heap.

Plan View

Lay a straight edge, of at least 1 metre long, across the adjacent mulch.

Plan View

Carefully measure the vertical distance from the bottom of the straight edge, to the soil surface.

Side View

Record measured depth.
Backfill the sampled area with excavated mulch and firm down to existing adjacent mulched area.
Using the same procedure as above, take a number of measurements throughout the mulched area.

Plan View
Compare the measurements taken on site, with the required spreading depth, after natural settlement, as stated in the Contract Bill of Quantities. Any 'under' spreading depth or 'low areas' should be re-installed correctly, at the contractors cost.
Remember that a 10mm less quantity on a 75mm depth, could represent a 13.3% cost saving to the contractor. For a quantity of say 1,000mł, this could represent a saving to the contractor in the region of Ł2660.00 for the material alone!!!
This 'cost-saving' will not be passed onto you or your client after the contract has been awarded.