Pine bark and hardwood mulches make up just two.
Pine mulch vs hardwood mulch.
Additionally prices may vary on shredded mulch.
Mulch performs a key role in an attractive healthy garden or landscape but the array of choices can prove daunting.
If you save your kitchen scraps you may be able to cover your garden in organic mulch for free.
And choose bark type mulches such as pine bark nuggets before shredded wood types such as cedar bark mulch cypress and hardwood.
These reddish brown chunks of pine bark give your garden a neat natural look.
Don t forget about additional types like coffee grounds pecan shells and compost.
Keep in mind that mulch reduces maintenance but doesn t eliminate it.
Hardwood mulch comes in a wide array of varieties and colors from hardwood to pine to cedar to cypress and then from warm red tones to rich browns to the deepest black.
Pine bark nuggets photo by john taylor.
Despite the name hardwood mulches actually decompose faster in the landscape than cedar or pine bark mulch owing to a higher cellulose content.
Other trendy types of organic mulch like shredded hardwood material pine needles and leaf mold.
Mulching is the single most important thing you can do to keep your garden healthy and to cut back on maintenance.
Earthgro hardwood mulch also at the home depot in selected stores 2 59 per bag 2 cu.
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.
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.
Hardwood mulch decomposes more slowly so it may not require two applications each year.
It also comes in many sizes from shredded to large nuggets.
Because of its staying power hardwood mulch is ideal for sloped beds and gardens in wet climates.
Triple shredded mulch costs more than double shredded mulch.
Cypress mulch averages about 1 49 per 2 cubic foot bag.
Organic mulches have to be replenished periodically usually every two to three years.