I'm looking to create a mulch bed along my back fence for some raised gardens and other plants in my flat backyard. I've read that the norm is to dig down about 3-4 inches and then fill the area with mulch. But that seems like a lot of dirt to get rid of! Can I just edge the area and create a slight incline to keep the mulch in place without digging down so much? Will it look strange if it's raised a bit?
3 Answers
It's a good idea to save some of that extra soil; you'll likely find a use for it later. Many folks do edge their mulch beds and just dig out slightly to keep the mulch in. No worries about it looking odd, it can actually look nice if done right!
Going deep for the mulch bed isn’t necessary. Mulch actually stays fine on level ground, and it can look really good being a few inches higher than the grass. Just make sure you get rid of the grass first, so it doesn't grow through later.
Definitely remove the grass first! If you don’t, it’ll just poke through the mulch. You can either dig it out or rent a sod cutter. For keeping mulch in place, edging is key. Plastic edgers work, but if you're looking for durability, go for metal.