Walk into any garden center and you will see a wall of mulch bags. Which one do you grab? The answer depends on where you are using it, what you are growing, and how long you want it to last.
Made from oak, maple, and other hardwoods. Chunky texture and dark brown color. Breaks down in 2 to 3 years while slowly adding organic matter to soil. Best placement: around trees, shrubs, and permanent plantings.
Sourced from pine and cedar. Uniform appearance with reddish-brown tone. Resists decomposition longer than hardwood. Best placement: decorative front-yard beds and ornamental displays.
Loose, lightweight stems typically from wheat or barley. Quickly decomposes into soil-enriching compost. Best placement: vegetable rows, strawberry beds, and newly seeded lawns.
Shredded tire material dyed various colors. Lasts virtually forever without breaking down. Best placement: playgrounds, pet areas, and spots where permanence matters more than soil health.
Fallen pine needles baled and sold. Creates slight acidity as it breaks down. Best placement: under azaleas, rhododendrons, blueberries, and other acid-loving plants.
Any organic mulch works well, but hardwood chips and bark reduce evaporation most effectively. Apply 6 to 10 cm thick for maximum water savings.
Thick straw and hardwood chips block sunlight best. A 10 cm layer stops most weed seeds from germinating. Reapply as the layer thins over time.
Bark mulch and cocoa hulls give the most polished look. Refresh annually to maintain that “just installed” appearance.
Straw, grass clippings, and shredded leaves break down fastest, feeding soil microbes and building humus. Skip rubber for this purpose as it contributes nothing to soil health.
A typical application is 7 to 8 cm thick. For every 10 square meters of bed at 7 cm depth:
Use our weight calculator to get exact amounts for your specific area and chosen thickness.