A Look at Garden Mulch Options: The Pros and Cons of Different Types of Mulch

Applying mulch is an essential gardening step. Of all the various garden mulch options, which one is the best? Learn about the different types of mulch available for everyday gardening, and decide which can work for you.

All About Options for Garden Mulch

From newspapers to pine needles, there are so many different types of mulch. Learn about the characteristics of popular garden mulch options.

The Role of Mulch

Why do gardeners apply mulch to their gardens? What exactly does mulch do? A variety of organic materials, and some non-organics, can be used to cover the soil around growing plants. While most garden mulch options improve the aesthetics of the landscape, the primary purpose is functional.

• Mulch serves to improve soil moisture, thereby conserving water and enhancing plant growth. For sloping gardens, it prevents the top layer of soil from eroding during heavy rains. Forming a protective layer between the earth and the air also helps to balance soil temperatures.
• Aside from helping to manage soil, mulch inhibits weed growth. Laid on top of the ground, around growing plants, it blocks unwanted weeds from sprouting into the sunlight.
• This in itself improves the nutrient content of the soil, as growing weeds would rob growing plants of some nutrition. Most organic mulches also provide extra nutrients as they decompose into the soil.

Related reading: A Case for a Messy Garden

Garden Mulch Materials

There are enough different types of mulch for every gardener to find a favorite.

• Cypress wood chips are one of the most popular materials. They are inexpensive and easy to use, although they are an environmental concern. Cutting down cypress trees for mulch endangers valuable wetland habitats.
• Pine needles are ideal for acid-loving plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, gardenias, hibiscus, and blueberries. They are inexpensive, highly effective as mulch, and good for the environment as they are a natural byproduct of pine trees.
• Straw is a wonderful traditional mulch. It is porous enough for watering but holds in moisture well. It is very inexpensive, good for the soil, and easy to apply. It is probably not the best mulch for sloping gardens and heavy winds, as it can potentially float or blow away.
• Newspaper is another environmentally-friendly mulch because it makes effective use of used papers. It also supplies nutrients for the soil and is highly biodegradable.
• Gravel rocks are ideal as landscaping mulch. They are great for blocking weed growth but keep in mind that once you lay down rocks, it is difficult to move them.
• Eucalyptus chips are a unique mulch in that the volatile oils act to repel pests. They are beautifully aromatic, highly attractive, and effective for deterring weeds and maintaining soil moisture, temperature, and pH. They are one of the most difficult materials to find, however.
• Yard waste and compost are free mulch. It is rich in nutrients and very effective. The only negative is that it tends to be less attractive than other mulches, and top layers of leaves and grass clippings can blow away.
• Rubber mulch is made from recycled tires. In the sense that material is being reused, it is environmentally friendly. It also lasts much longer than other organic options, which decompose into the soil. It however does not offer nutrition, and in fact, can potentially leach trace amounts of toxins into the soil.
• Landscape fabric is another non-organic option, which usually is used under another type of mulch. It is great for keeping out weeds and can be reused. It can be expensive and does not supply any nutrients.
• Coconut mulch (Coir) is another natural byproduct. It is made from the fibrous material known as coir. It is rich in nutrients, lovely to look at, and effective. It also smells good. It can raise acidity levels of the soil, and may need to be balanced with a nitrogen fertilizer.

Related reading: 10 Surprising Ways to Improve Your Garden by Saving Autumn Leaves

Tips for Applying Garden Mulch

To apply mulch, start by eliminating weeds. Then spread whatever material you are planning to use around growing plants. Leave three to four inches free of mulch around each plant, and layer the material to a thickness of three to four inches.

When watering your garden, you can water directly onto the mulch. Be sure that the material is porous enough for plenty of water to reach the soil. Replace as needed, as it decomposes into the soil, or simply for the next growing season.

What is the right type of mulch for you? With so many different types of mulch to choose from, there are many garden mulch options.

People concerned with the environment may prefer newspapers or coconut; gardeners who are also farmers may have access to plenty of hay; for vegetable gardens, the best option may be compost and yard clippings; those that want durability year after year may appreciate rubber mulch; and, those who need attractive garden mulch options may choose gravel or wood chips.

Try whatever fits your needs and will best enhance your garden.

Related reading: How to Create a Home Landscape That Looks Professionally Designed

References:

• “Different kinds of mulch before laying it down“
• Musial, Peggy. “COVER ALL THE BASES WHEN CHOOSING RIGHT MULCH” (Orlando Sentinel)
• Photo by: Joe (CC/Flickr)