Types of Mulch

So you, like millions of other homeowners and business owners have decided to add mulch to your landscape.  Mulch is useful for many purposes, but there are so many types of mulch that you can use, that it's difficult to decide which type is best for you.

Mulch can essentially be any material that is placed over soil, and I hope to address the most often used products on the market.  Mulch can be used to prevent weed growth, reduce erosion, and enrich the soil.  One of the most common types of mulch is bark mulch.  Bark mulch is shredded bark that decomposes over time, enriching the soil underneath the mulch with nutrients and it lasts a very long time.  Generally, you will want a 2" layer of mulch for plant beds, but for beds that you do not want any plants to grow, you can lay a 4" layer to ensure that weeds don't grow.  Bark mulch naturally comes in a wide variety of colors, but some manufacturers will add dye to enhance the color of the mulch.

There are two problems with dyed mulch:

1. The color quickly fades, so dyed mulch needs to be applied more often than natural mulch
2. As the mulch breaks down, the chemicals in the dye are added to the soil

Therefore, it is essential to get organic, natural mulch that enhances your soil rather than harms it.

Wood chips can also be used as mulch, which is as beneficial as bark mulch.  However,  they may move with rain, so they should not be used on hills, or near drainage.  It is also therefore difficult to get the clean lines of mulch that many landscapers use with chips. 

Another popular mulch to reduce weeds is fabric covering.  This fabric covering will allow sunlight and water to get through, but reduces weeds.  This is generally a cheaper alternative to mulch, but persistent weeds will still get through, and if you place mulch on top of it, weeds will just grow on top of the fabric.  This causes a useless  mess which is costly to remove. 

Cocoa mulch is another popular mulch type.  This mulch however is extremely odorous and very poisonous to dogs.  Cocoa mulch is made from cocoa bean shells, whose smells attracts dogs to eat it, but contains the same toxins as chocolate.

Rubber mulch is a popular mulch for childrens' play areas, known as playground mulch.  It is made from recycled tires and will not harm children when falling or playing.  There has been concern, however, that as the rubber breaks down, it leaks harmful ingredients into the soil.  There is also concern of the high combustibility of rubber, which is a concern with having a highly-combustible material in your backyard, that could attract a forest fire into your home.  If having a safe play area is a concern, there are soft, natural mulches that are certified safe for children and pets.

Pine needles can also be used as a mulch, which is a cheap method of mulching.  It is not long-lasting, but a 4" layer will keep weeds from growing.  

Finally, stone can also be used as mulch.  They are extremely long-lasting and beautiful.  Smaller stones are generally used.

Therefore, it is recommended to use either natural, organic (non-dyed) bark mulch or stone as a long-lasting, beneficial mulch type.