Much Ado About Mulch


© Tamara Galbraith
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Jun 5, 2005


  • Shredded Cypress Many counties in Florida are restricting the use of cypress as mulch due to the dwindling number of cypress forests there. Also, a 1994 study conducted by the Florida Cooperative Extension Service found that cypress mulch tends to actually repel water when dry, and hold too much of it when wet. When possible, use something else.

  • Colored Wood Mulches The terra cotta and black colored mulches are a little weird, in my opinion. They take away from the appearance of the plants in some cases too. And I'm not real sure about what the dye used on them is derived from.

  • Hulls of buckwheat, cottonseed, cocoa, peanut, etc. I have never used these personally, but they do add nutrients as they break down. Their sharp edges can also be a good deterrent of slimy pests like slugs and snails. Make sure you buy organic, i.e. non-chemically treated hulls if you go this route.

  • Shredded Hardwood Looks nice and is also economical ($2-$5 per bag). Can be very sharp and difficult to handle.

  • Shredded Native Cedar The best, in my humble opinion. It looks great, smells great, and deters many chewing insects. It's also pretty economical, because it's so densely chopped; to me, it seems like I get more mulch per bag when I buy cedar. (Rumors that cedar mulch is toxic to plants are grossly exaggerated and were probably started by the folks who market pine bark mulch.)

    Home Alternatives:
    Partially finished compost and chopped leaves each make terrific mulch. Although neither looks as good as the common wood mulches, both will provide your plants with optimal nutrition. If you use leaves, make sure they are thoroughly chopped, otherwise matting will occur and moisture will not be able to get down to your plants.

    How "Mulch" To Use?

      Generally, you should plan to cover all exposed soil areas with 3" of mulch. DO NOT place mulch right up against the stems of plants and trunks of trees. Back off about 2" or so, as this allows water and air to reach the base of the plant, and also ensures against rotting from constant contact with the mulch.

      Also, don't think that more is better in the case of mulch. With trees, especially, think "wider" not "higher". Avoid piling mulch up in a volcano formation around the trunks of trees and thinking it will help - it won't.

      There are several online calculators that help you figure out how much mulch you'll need to buy, depending on your garden size. See the resources area below for a couple of helpful links. Generally, one cubic yard of mulch covers 108 square feet at 3" deep.

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