At FSI Landscape Supply, we have encountered many landscape contractors and landscaping professionals who, over the years, have shared their tips and tricks of the trade. Today, we share a few of our tips that may help you achieve a vibrant landscape for summer.

Mulch has various benefits, such as providing nourishment for soil and plants, supplying a moisture barrier, and keeping weeds at bay. However, its functional properties are not all that it is used for. The first landscaping tip is to use mulch to enhance surrounding colours. Suppose you are looking to increase the vibrancy of the lawn, make certain features of the home stand out, or complement garden beds. By incorporating a rich coloured mulch, you will be able to elevate the overall aesthetics of the landscape design. Keep in mind; mulch has the ability to fade due to excessive sun exposure. Some will fade much quicker than others, depending on the type of mulch you choose to incorporate. To keep mulch looking its best, we recommend evaluating the condition of the existing mulch first before deciding on what to do with it. If the existing mulch is decomposing, it is best to replace it entirely. If you are looking to brighten up the fading colour, adding a thin light layer will restore its vibrancy.

For those who want to use very little mulch and still want to achieve a vibrant landscape, incorporate mica chunks, granite chunks, or white calcite.  The aggregate and natural stone will add a bit of glitz and glam.  Mica chunks, black or pink granite chunks, can be used as accents that will stand out on their own. However, if you choose to incorporate white calcite as a base, the natural stones will pop as well as the other surrounding colours of the landscape design.

We all love a good rainfall. The soothing sound is reassurance that lawns are being watered by mother nature. As the rain falls, we hope that dirt and grime will be washed away from patios, walkways, and steps. However, although some rain is fantastic for plant life, it will not thoroughly clean natural stone. Some landscapers may choose to use a pressure washer. We have all seen the commercials as the demonstrator blasts away debris; although fun to use, a natural stone cleaner is an optimal choice. It is best to avoid using a pressure washer as it has the ability to remove aggregates in between the stones, which keep them in place, coatings, sealants, and the most outer layer of the natural stone. Any exposed pores will allow water to penetrate, causing some potential damage. Using a quality stone cleaner will ensure proper maintenance and offer protection, keeping the natural stone looking its best.

What do mulch, mica chunks, granite chunks, and stone cleaner all have in common? They can all be found here at FSI Landscape Supply. At FSI Landscape Supply, we provide landscaping contractors and professionals a large variety of landscaping supplies to complete any project and design. Contact us today for more information!