Posts tagged: Blog

As the frost thaws and the first signs of green emerge, it’s time to roll up your sleeves. A little preparation now ensures a lush, vibrant landscape all summer long. Here at Cornerstone Landscape Supply, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners transform their yards. Here are the five non-negotiable steps to get your garden ready for the growing season.

1. The Great Clean-Up

Before you plant anything, you need a clean canvas. Remove fallen branches, matted leaves, and any debris that accumulated over the winter. This doesn’t just look better—it prevents mold and pests from taking hold in the damp layers of old organic matter.

2. Test and Amend Your Soil

Your plants are only as healthy as the soil they grow in. After the winter, soil can become compacted or nutrient-depleted.

• The Squeeze Test: Take a handful of soil and squeeze. If it falls apart easily, you’re good. If it stays in a hard clump, it’s too compacted and needs aeration.
• Top-Dressing: Now is the perfect time to add a layer of Cornerstone’s Premium Garden Mix or compost to reintroduce vital nutrients.

3. Inspect and Repair Hardscaping

Winter can be tough on stone and wood. Check your walkways, retaining walls, and edging for shifts or cracks.

• Pro-Tip: If your gravel paths look thin, a fresh delivery of Crushed Stone or Pea Gravel from Cornerstone can instantly refresh the look of your entire property.

4. Prune for Growth

Prune dead or damaged branches from shrubs and trees to encourage new growth. Just be careful: check which of your plants bloom on “old wood” vs. “new wood” so you don’t accidentally cut off this year’s flowers!

5. Apply a Fresh Layer of Mulch

This is the “finishing touch” that does the most work. A 2-to-3-inch layer of fresh mulch:

• Suppresses Weeds: Blocks the sun from reaching weed seeds.
• Retains Moisture: Keeps roots cool and hydrated during the summer heat.
• Regulates Temperature: Protects roots from late-spring temperature swings.

Ready to get started? Don’t wait until the rush hits! Visit Cornerstone Landscape Supply today to pick up your mulch, stone, and soil. We offer local delivery to make your spring project as easy as possible.

Call us at 304-707-0437 or browse our products online!

When you pull into Cornerstone Landscape Supply, the variety of mulch options can be overwhelming. Is “Double Shredded” better than “Triple”? Does the color matter?

Mulch is more than just a decorative topper—it’s a protective layer for your landscape’s “infrastructure.” Here is our expert guide to help you choose the right material for your specific needs.

1. Hardwood Mulch (The All-Rounder)

Our double-shredded hardwood mulch is our most popular seller. It’s a natural product that breaks down slowly, adding organic matter back into your soil over time.

• Best for: General garden beds, sloped areas (it “knits” together well to resist washing away), and around large trees.
• Pro-Tip: Hardwood mulch is excellent for moisture retention during the hot summer months.

2. Dyed Mulches (The Aesthetic Choice)

If you want that “curb appeal” pop, dyed mulches are the way to go. At Cornerstone, we offer Midnight Black, Deep Red, and Dark Chocolate Brown.

• The Dying Process: Our dyes are environmentally friendly and pet-safe.
• Longevity: Because the wood is treated, it holds its vibrant color much longer than natural hardwood mulch, which eventually fades to a silvery-grey.
• Best for: Front-yard landscaping where high contrast makes your plants stand out.

3. Cedar and Cypress (The Pest Repellers)

Cedar and Cypress mulches are naturally resistant to decay and, more importantly, they repel many common garden insects.

• The Scent: There is nothing quite like the fresh smell of a yard finished in cedar.
• Best for: Areas near the foundation of your home or around play sets where you want to keep bugs at a minimum.

4. Pine Bark Mulch (The Acid-Lover’s Friend)

Pine bark nuggets or fines tend to be slightly more acidic than hardwood.

• Best for: Plants like Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and Blueberries that thrive in lower pH soil.
• Texture: Nuggets are great for flat areas, but keep in mind they can float away in heavy rain!

5. Playground Wood Chips (Safety First)

If you are building a play area for the kids, you need a specific type of wood chip. These are engineered to be softer and free of large splinters.

• Best for: Under swing sets, slides, and high-traffic play zones.

How Much Do You Need?

As a general rule, you want to maintain a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Too thin, and weeds will poke through; too thick, and you can actually suffocate your plants’ roots.

Justin’s Calculation Trick: To find your yardage, multiply your square footage by the desired depth (in inches) and divide by 324.

Example: 500 sq ft x 3 inches / 324 = ~4.6 Cubic Yards.

Not sure which one to pick? Come see the samples in person! Visit Cornerstone Landscape Supply today and let our experts help you pick the perfect match for your home.

If you’ve ever wondered why your neighbor’s garden looks like a botanical paradise while yours is struggling to keep a few shrubs alive, the answer is likely hiding beneath the surface. At Cornerstone Landscape Supply, we often tell our customers: “You can’t grow a million-dollar plant in a ten-cent hole.”

Here is why investing in professional-grade soil is the single most important decision you can make for your landscape.

1. The Nutrient Factor: Fuel for Growth

Standard “fill dirt” found on construction sites is usually the subsoil—it’s dense, rocky, and almost entirely devoid of organic matter. Professional-grade soil, like our Premium Garden Mix, is a carefully balanced blend of topsoil, compost, and organic amendments.

• Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK): Our mixes are rich in these three essential nutrients that plants need to build strong roots and vibrant leaves.

2. Texture and Drainage: The “Lung” of the Plant

Plants don’t just “drink” through their roots; they also need to “breathe.”

• The Problem with Clay: Heavy clay soil stays wet too long, literally drowning the roots.
• The Problem with Sand: Sandy soil drains too fast, leaving your plants thirsty and hungry.
• The Professional Solution: A high-quality loam-based soil has the perfect “crumb” structure. It holds enough water to hydrate the plant but allows excess moisture to drain away, preventing root rot.

3. Avoiding the “Weed and Seed” Nightmare

One of the biggest risks of getting “free” soil from a construction site or an unvetted source is what comes with it. Low-grade soil is often packed with dormant weed seeds, invasive species, and even harmful pathogens or pests.

• Cornerstone’s Quality Control: Our soils are screened to remove large rocks and debris, and our composting process reaches temperatures high enough to neutralize most weed seeds.

4. Long-Term Value vs. Short-Term Savings

Buying cheap soil might save you a few dollars today, but you’ll spend twice as much later on fertilizers, pesticides, and replacing dead plants. Professional soil acts as a long-term investment that builds a self-sustaining ecosystem in your garden beds.

Cornerstone’s Soil Menu:

• Screened Topsoil: Great for filling large holes or leveling a lawn before sodding.
• Premium Garden Mix: Our “Black Gold.” Perfect for raised beds, vegetable gardens, and flower borders.
• Fill Dirt: Best used only for deep structural filling where nothing will be planted.

Don’t treat your soil like an afterthought! Give your plants the foundation they deserve. Stop by Cornerstone Landscape Supply today, and we’ll help you choose the right blend for your project. We offer bulk delivery to keep your project moving fast.

Call us at 304-707-0437 to schedule your delivery!

One of the most common questions we get at Cornerstone Landscape Supply is: “I have a 20-foot driveway, how many tons of stone should I order?”

Ordering too little means paying for a second delivery fee; ordering too much means having a massive pile of rocks sitting in your yard for months. To help you get it “just right,” we’ve put together this simple guide to calculating your landscape materials like a pro.

1. The Golden Formula

Whether you are buying decorative river rock, crushed limestone, or pea gravel, the formula for volume is always the same:

Length (ft) x Width (ft) x Depth (ft) / 27 = Cubic Yards

2. Step-by-Step Breakdown

• Step A: Measure in Feet. If your area is 20 feet long and 10 feet wide, your square footage is 200 sq. ft.
• Step B: Determine Your Depth. This is where most people get stuck.
  • For driveways, you usually want 3 to 4 inches.
  • For garden paths or decorative borders, 2 to 3 inches is standard.
  • Convert to feet: 3 inches is 0.25 feet (3 / 12).
• Step C: Multiply and Divide. * 200 sq. ft. x 0.25 ft depth = 50 cubic feet.
  • 50 / 27 (the number of cubic feet in a yard) = 1.85 Cubic Yards.

3. Converting Yards to Tons

Most stone is sold by the Ton, while soil and mulch are sold by the Cubic Yard.

• The Rule of Thumb: Most crushed stone weighs roughly 2,500 to 2,800 lbs per cubic yard.
• The Easy Math: Multiply your Cubic Yards by 1.4 to get the approximate tonnage.
• Example: 1.85 yards x 1.4 = ~2.6 Tons.

4. Pro Tips for Accurate Ordering

• Don’t Forget the Compaction: If you are building a base for a patio or a driveway, the stone will settle or “compact” when you run a plate compactor over it. Always add 10% extra to account for this settling.
• Irregular Shapes: If your garden bed is a circle or a kidney shape, treat it like a rectangle that covers the widest points, then multiply by 0.8 to compensate for the curves.

Let Us Do the Math For You!

Still feeling a bit shaky on the numbers? Don’t worry. Just bring your measurements (Length and Width) down to Cornerstone Landscape Supply. Our team uses these formulas every day, and we’ll make sure you get exactly what you need to finish the job.

Ready to order? We offer fast, local delivery for all bulk stone orders. Call us at 304-707-0437 to get a quote today!

Your front yard is your home’s “first impression.” While flowers and a green lawn are great, it’s the hardscaping—the permanent, structural elements—that provide the “bones” of a stunning property.

At Cornerstone Landscape Supply, we believe that a few well-placed stone elements can transform a boring entrance into a high-end estate. Here are three ideas to boost your curb appeal this season.

1. The Formal Stone Walkway

Nothing says “welcome” like a clean, structured path. Moving away from a simple concrete sidewalk to a paver or natural stone walkway adds immediate texture and value.

• Why it works: It guides the visitor’s eye directly to your front door.
• Cornerstone’s Pick: Use Flagstone for a rustic, natural look, or Interlocking Pavers for a clean, modern aesthetic.

2. Decorative Boulder Groupings

If your yard feels flat, you need vertical interest. A grouping of three boulders of varying sizes creates a natural focal point that requires zero maintenance.

• The “Rule of Three”: Always group boulders in odd numbers (3 or 5) and bury the bottom 1/3 of the stone so it looks like it “grew” there rather than just being dropped on top of the grass.
• Cornerstone’s Pick: Check out our selection of Weathered Limestone or Granite Boulders.

3. Natural Stone Edging for Garden Beds

Tired of your mulch spilling onto the grass every time it rains? Plastic or metal edging gets the job done, but natural stone edging is a design statement.

• Why it works: It creates a crisp, permanent border that makes your lawn look professionally manicured.
• Cornerstone’s Pick: Cobblestones or small Wall Blocks are perfect for creating clean, curving lines.

Invest in Your Home’s Value

Hardscaping is one of the few home improvements that offers an immediate return on investment. It doesn’t wilt, it doesn’t need water, and it looks better every year.

Ready to upgrade your curb appeal? Come walk through our yard at Cornerstone Landscape Supply. We have all the stone, pavers, and boulders you need to make your front yard the talk of the neighborhood.

Call us at 304-707-0437 to talk to a design specialist!