Choosing The Best Mulch How To Choose Garden Mulch

In general, pick a type with larger chunks, because it'll decompose more slowly. And choose bark-type mulches (such as pine bark nuggets) before shredded wood types (such as cedar bark mulch, cypress and hardwood). Keep in mind that mulch reduces maintenance but doesn't eliminate it.

What is the best quality mulch?

Best Overall: Planter's Pride PlantBest Mega Mulch. ...
Best Organic: National Cocoa Shell Blommer Cocoa Shell Mulch. ...
Best for Decorating: Plow & Hearth Perma Mulch Permanent Border. ...
Best Potting: Window Garden Fiber Mulch. ...
Best Mulch for Grass and Seeds: EZ Straw Seeding Mulch.

What color of mulch is best?

There are three basic colors for mulch: black, brown and red. If you plant dark foliage or dark green colors, almost any mulch color works. As a general rule of thumb for flowers, pick a mulch color that does not work against the color of your blooms. For example, white flowers look beautiful with red mulch.

What is the best mulch to use around your house?

Pine straw is the most commonly used mulch that is lowest in cellulose, and it is a good choice for foundation plantings. Mulches that are not plant-based, such as rubber mulches, gravel and rocks, are, of course, not consumed by termites. The placement of the mulch is more important than what you use.

How do you buy good mulch?

Here are some things to think about when you are shopping for mulch.

Consider the source. Most commercial organic mulches, apart from straw, are wood byproducts from the lumber industry. ...
Choose mulch for its purpose. Consider the plant when you choose. ...
Bag or bulk? ...
Plan ahead. ...
Find it free.

What kind of mulch lasts the longest?

Generally more expensive than the other mulches mentioned here, cedar mulch lasts longer than most mulches thanks to its resistance to decay. Its oils are considered to naturally repel insects, too. BECAUSE this mulch is long lasting, it doesn't provide much nutritional benefit to the soil beneath it.

Should you remove old mulch?

Expert green thumbs contend that getting rid of last year's mulch is completely unnecessary. Mulch gradually breaks down, adding beneficial nutrients and other organic matter to the soil. ... However, if you're down to an inch, top off the old layer with an additional inch of new mulch to keep it at its optimum level.

Is black mulch dangerous?

I sometimes encounter customers who ask, “Is colored mulch toxic?”. Most colored mulches are dyed with harmless dyes, like iron oxide-based dyes for red or carbon-based dyes for black and dark brown. ... It can also be harmful to people spreading this mulch and animals who dig in it.

What color mulch fades the least?

Meanwhile, dyed brown mulches or black mulches can last for a minimum of a year, and in some products longer with little color loss. This makes dyed mulches, either black or brown, more desirable than natural mulches.

Which mulch attracts less bugs?

Bark or chip mulches made from cedar or cypress trees are helpful for repelling insects. Both cedar and cypress wood contain natural oils and chemicals such as thujone that deter bugs.

What should I put down before mulching?

Before you mulch your landscape, rake the area smooth

Using a stiff rake, such as a mud rake, smooth out all the surfaces to be mulched. Otherwise, your mulched flower beds or mulched areas around trees will look lumpy.

Should you put mulch around your house?

Adding a layer of mulch around your home has a few different benefits: Preventing weeds. A layer of mulch a few inches deep can help repress weed growth. Some homeowners use a layer of landscaping fabric or plastic for an added barrier against unwanted weeds.

Will mulch attract bugs?

While organic mulches naturally decompose and are beneficial, they also attract insects looking for warmth, shelter and food. Insects eat the pine bark mulch along with the bacteria and fungi harbored within its moist, dark confines. Pests that aren't true insects but are linked with infestations include spiders.

What is a good price for mulch?

Hardwood and dyed mulches typically cost $30 to $36 per yard, or $3 to $6 per bag. Premium mulches, such as those made from cedar or cypress trees, can cost $40 to $47 per yard, or $4 to $7 per bag.

How often should you mulch?

Don't use too little or too much mulch

About 3 inches of mulch is recommended for beds, and Becker recommends mulching twice a year. Mulching with the right amount each time will help fend off weeds and conserve moisture, which will reduce your need to irrigate.

Can you put mulch over weeds?

A thick layer of mulch applied to garden areas after hand weeding will prevent weeds from reseeding or emerging a second time. For shallow rooted plants, mulching will smother weeds and eventually kill off roots without hand weeding first, but you must make it thick. The best mulches are long lasting and organic.

Which is better mulch or nuggets?

The choice of what you use really comes down to appearance, cost, ease of spreading and longevity. Nuggets are larger and will therefore last longer before breaking down. The mulch is finer, easier to spread and usually cheaper.

Is it better to use mulch or rock?

Rocks are great at suffocating weeds and show a better success rate at weed-prevention than mulch. Stone cover is perfect for low-water gardens and landscapes. However, stones aren't the perfect solution for gardens that may get a lot of sun because they can hold more heat than mulch.

Are wood chips better than mulch?

Wood chips tend to be larger and chunkier than mulch, and they provide a much cleaner ground cover than mulch does. ... Wood chips tend to last longer without compacting than bark mulch, which makes it ideal for use in areas with large amounts of foot traffic, such as playgrounds and trails.

Should you replace mulch every year?

Generally, mulch needs very little attention to function as it should, and some mulches can last 10 years or longer before needing to be replaced. It's most important to occasionally check the depth of your mulch and make sure it falls between 2 to 4 inches deep.

What is the best time to put down mulch?

Normally, mid- to late spring is the best time to put down mulch. Seedlings can work their way through a thin layer of mulch, but too deep a layer could be impenetrable.

How do you remove old mulch?

If upon inspection, you decide that the old mulch has not, in fact, decomposed appreciably, you should rake the old mulch aside for now so that you can prepare the planting bed. If you need to get it out of the way, shovel the mulch into a wheelbarrow, dumping successive loads onto a tarp off to the side.