What Is Hardwood Mulch Used For

Triple shredded mulch costs more than double shredded mulch.

What is hardwood mulch used for.

Don t use too little or too much mulch. Using mulch in a flower bed can prevent a later invasion of weeds. Mulch serves multiple purposes in a landscape. Mulch is used to retain moisture in the soil suppress weeds keep the soil cool prevent frost heaving in winter and make the garden bed look more attractive.

The best kind of hardwood mulch for yards. Hardwood mulch is available at lowe s home depot so i have used it but pine bark is the most plentiful. Colored wood mulch is often made from recycled wood that can contain objectionable additives including arsenic from pressure treated wood and is not always 100 hardwood pressure treated wood containing arsenic was phased out a decade ago by the epa but old crates and pallets may still be entering the recycling stream. Cocoa bean mulch is popular in some areas because of its deep brown color and chocolate odor.

It ll mat together and stay in place better than a thinner layer. If you want to use organic mulch on slopes apply a shredded type about 6 in. Pine bark and hardwood mulches make up just two. In areas where harvesting of hardwood trees is common hardwood mulch is usually very easy to find and it can be quite inexpensive.

Conversely hardwood mulch could cost as much as 2 29 per 2 cubic foot bag depending on the type and quality of the leftover bark. Three to four inches of organic mulch like hardwood or cocoa bean hulls applied around a plant or tree but not touching it is ideal for suppressing. In addition to being visually pleasing mulch helps retain moisture reduces weeds and protects plants. Organic mulches also help improve the soil s structure drainage and nutrient holding capacity as they decompose.

Cypress mulch averages about 1 49 per 2 cubic foot bag. I even use sifted pine bark mulch to get pieces around 1 8 to 1 4 to mix into bonsai soil with small river rock turface. Both hardwood and softwood bark chips and nuggets byproducts of the lumber and paper industries are typically aged and dried and sometimes even. Wood chips nuggets or bark.

And pull back mulch from the base of plants so it doesn t cause rot. Like other materials used for mulch hardwood mulch serves a number of functions in the garden. Mulch performs a key role in an attractive healthy garden or landscape but the array of choices can prove daunting. But it s a bit tricky.