Keep mulch a few inches away from siding — resting against bare concrete foundation below the siding line is fine. The gap keeps moisture and insects from bridging up into wood framing, and it keeps rain splash-back off clapboards. Concrete does not mind contact; the wood above it does, and that visible strip of foundation is your maintenance indicator each spring.
At the foundation line
- Leave a visible strip of concrete between the mulch and the bottom edge of siding
- Slope beds slightly away from the house so water drains off, not in
- Hold depth at 2–3 inches — piling deeper against a wall invites trouble
Refreshing foundation beds this spring? Shop bulk mulch by the cubic yard — the minimum order is just 1 yard.
