If you’ve gotten a gorgeous fence from Carter Fence, you want to protect it – you don’t want to risk damage from using a trimmer too close to the fence. A great way to keep grass and weeds away from your fence is to add mulch.
Which type of mulch you choose is largely dependent on what kind of fence you have. Organic mulch holds a lot of moisture, and can cause your wood fence to get mold, mildew and rot. Consider using a shallow layer of rock mulch closest to the fence instead. Rocks don’t hold moisture against the wood like organic mulch would.
If you have a metal, PVC, or brick fence, you don’t have to worry about rot, so you can use pretty much any type of mulch.
There are a few steps to adding mulch around your fence:
- Carefully remove the grass or weeds within a foot of each side of the fence.
- Place the landscape fabric (also known as weed blocker) on the ground, and weigh it down with rocks every 4 to 6 feet.
- If you are adding plants, cut holes into the landscape fabric; place plants at least 6 inches out from the fence.
- Use enough mulch to cover the fabric to about 2 to 4 inches deep (remember to go shallow against the wood fence line to avoid rot.)
- Inspect your fence yearly for termites or other wood eating insects, if you use mulch near a wood fence.
For more information about fences in Arlington VA, please contact Carter Fence. Since 1986, Carter Fence has been installing and servicing fences in Vienna VA and the rest of the Northern Virginia area — from tall wood privacy fences to decorative picket fences — and everything in between. Our expert team uses quality materials and advanced installation and design techniques to ensure you get the best fence for your needs.