Frequently Asked Questions

Second Nature produces and sells three kinds of high-quality soil amendments: compost, topsoil and mulch. These amazing materials all possess natural "green" power that keeps plants and green spaces beautiful, healthy and/or productive. These extremely clean, value-added products are formulated to work in every kind of soil condition found here in South Texas.

Each cubic yard of material will cover about 100 square feet to a depth of 3 inches (desirable depth). Use our online calculator tool to help you estimate what you need, or call us directly for help in this matter. If you don't use the calculator you can figure out your order this way: Measure the coverage area by multiplying its length X its width in square feet. For example, a bed measuring 10' X 30' = 300 sq. ft. 300 is now the magic number. For 3 inches of coverage, divide that number by 100 to get 3 cubic yards; that is how much material you'd order. For 2 inches of coverage, divide the number by 150; and for 1 inch of coverage divide the number by 300.

High-quality compost such as what we sell here at Second Nature has a multitude of benefits. It will:
--Increases soil digestion and fertility, which helps produce more healthy plants
--Increases microbial activity and the soil's organic matter
--Suppresses weed growth
--Changes soil so it will have fewer insect-pests
--Helps neutralize the soil's pH levels
--Decreases leaching of water, so the top layers of soil keep more moisture for the plants

There’s really never a bad time to condition your soil with compost. However, we recommend doing so before the planting season has begun if you plan to till or heavily mix into your garden. Top-dressing around plants is a good idea year-round. Our favorite time to add compost is after the planting season is over in late Fall or early Winter. This allows the microbial life in our products to benefit your soil throughout the off-season so you’ll be ready for Spring, Summer or Fall planting.

Think of it this way: When your lawn or garden needs more organic material to feed/invigorate plants and help them grow, add compost. When your lawn garden or lawn requires a change of grade or more bulk, add topsoil. In many cases you will want both products. Feel free to ask us questions about their usage.

Mulch provides numerous benefits to landscapes both from a visual and ecological standpoint.
--Mulch adds a beautiful “finished” look (and color) to planting beds.
--Mulching conserves water by reducing evaporation from soil simply because the mulch layer keeps moisture from escaping.
--Proper use of mulch prevents erosion of underlying soil. Finer-textured, shredded Mulch binds together and stays in place through
even severe rain events.
--Mulch moderates soil temperature by insulating the planting area and making it stay moist longer. This helps soil generally stays cooler in the Summer and warmer in the Winter.
--Mulch's coarse nature acts as a natural weed barrier by preventing weed seed from growing.
--Decomposed mulch adds beneficial organic matter to the planting bed. Microbes flourish in rich, organic soil which promotes healthy plants.

Mulch should be raked or “fluffed” periodically to prevent it from compacting and repelling rain. It's also a good idea to add more mulch to an existing area periodically to maintain both its thickness and color. For these reasons, we recommend refreshing a mulch bed at least once a year.

Absolutely! All our landscape products will not harm children or pets. Made from natural organic components, they do not contain any harsh chemicals or pesticides of any kind.