The Bigger the Company, the Bigger the Scam

Why is it that well-known chains seem to provide increasingly worse quality for smaller quantities and then charge a premium, just because you know the store name?  It seems to me, that the better known a store is, the more their reputation would be on the line.  But that never is the case.  In the case of landscape supply, a large chain supply store is now offering a mulch from a well-known grass seed company, which is in their words the "finest quality mulch."  The mulch is color enhanced, likely meaning that it is chemically dyed, which will add chemicals to your soil.  It is finely ground, which they have then marketed as a product that "will save you money." The fact is that larger mulch may block water to some parts of soil, but it should not significantly block water from getting to the soil, unless you lay the mulch at a great depth, which will prevent plants from growing altogether.  They also recommend laying their mulch at a 3" depth, which will suffocate plants in plant beds (2" is the recommended depth of mulch, 4" or more if you want nothing to grow).  However, it's to their benefit to recommend more than necessary, because then you would need to buy anywhere from 30% to 50% more mulch for the same square footage.  It is true that finely ground, soft mulch is better quality because it is easier to handle, and looks nicer, but don't let them trick you into believing it will do anything for your water bill.  These days, companies are looking for more ways to market to people looking to go green.  But the best way to attract customers looking for organic products, is to actually have organic products.  This must be a strange concept for the big companies that feel the need to stock the same products, but market them as green.   

The Difference Between Good Mulch and Bad Mulch

Mulch supply companies often talk about how amazing their mulch is.  But what does that really mean?  What's the difference between good mulch and bad mulch and how can you really tell if mulch is good?  I want to go into depth with the different types of mulches to see what makes a mulch good, so that you aren't finding yourself mulching the same spot time and time again.

Hemlock Mulch is one of the most abused terms in the mulch world.  True Hemlock Mulch is not actually be made of bark, but of hardwood Hemlock.  The distinct brown color should have a reddish tint, but many bad mulches have dyed and over dyed the mulch so that people now associate Hemlock with a fake orange-red color.  The easiest way to tell if Hemlock mulch is chemically dyed is to grab a handful of the mulch.  If your hand is left a reddish color, that's an indication that the mulch is going to fade very quickly.  As the dyed mulch breaks down, the chemicals in the dye will be absorbed by the soil underneath, harming your plants, so it is important to ensure that the Hemlock is not dyed.  Good Hemlock Mulch should also be soft to the touch.

Black Mulch is another mulch made of hard wood and not bark.  Black Mulch gets its color from the wood breaking down over a long period of time.  To create Black Mulch more quickly, some manufacturers will add Pine Bark Mulch to their Black Mulch and dye the mulch to make it black.  This method will make the Black Mulch extremely susceptible to fading.  After the mulch sits under the sun and in the rain for a few weeks, you will notice that the mulch starts to become bleached white.  To ensure that you're getting top-quality Black Mulch, check that the mulch is not inorganically dyed.  Like Hemlock Mulch, good Black Mulch should be soft to the touch.

Playground Mulch can be made with many different types of materials.  Rubber mulch is a popular choice, as it is soft and made of recycled tires.  However, the rubber is extremely flammable, so many homeowners choose not to use it.  An organic playground mulch is similar to the Hemlock and Black Mulch.  Make sure to purchase Playground Certified Mulch that has been tested for any harmful chemicals, and its softness has been tested to break a child's fall from certain heights. 

Pine Bark Mulch is generally a cheaper mulch.  As Pine Bark breaks down, it better enriches the soil and so it is good for plant beds.  Even good Pine Bark will not last as long as Hemlock and Black Mulches which will last one or two years.  Bark Mulch is lighter than the mulches made of hard wood, so it will wash away and move more easily.  Pine Bark Mulch is more acidic than hard wood mulches, which can be good for some soils.  For this reason, it is also said to repel bugs, but don't be fooled into thinking that the difference is noticeable.  The mulch should have a dark brown color and will not be completely uniform throughout. 

To conclude, good mulch may be more expensive, but will save you money in the long run, because you will only have to mulch once rather than returning time and time again to the same area.  Especially in plant beds, it is important to avoid cheap mulch, because dyes and chemicals can harm the soil underneath as it breaks down. 

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.