Mind Your Mulch: Eco-friendly Mulch
(Page 2 of 3)
March/April 2003
By Ann D. Brucklacher
Termites do not favor melaleuca, the mulch will not significantly alter soil pH, and it holds its shape well.
RELATED CONTENT
Build a water garden in your backyard for a natural retreat. Learn about tips for building a pond, ...
Xeriscaping requires very little water, provides wildlife habitat, reduces chemical pollution—and s...
Design your garden with water efficiency in mind, and youll spend less time fussing over your green...
Grocery aisles are packed with attention-grabbing food labels, yet only a handful certify how a pro...
Cocoa mulch
Tired of lugging around heavy bags of mulch? Cocoa hulls, available in many larger and regional garden centers, are both lightweight and a feast for plants.
The byproducts of commercial cocoa grinding, these small, shell-shaped hulls contain 2.5 percent to 3 percent nitrogen. Their low acidity makes them an ideal choice for roses. Snails and slugs are said to shy away from this mulch, but dog owners should beware, as cocoa hulls contain theobromine, the chemical that makes chocolate toxic for canines. Cocoa mulch may develop a layer of harmless mold that can be removed with water or raking.
Pine bark and needles
Woodsy pine bark chips retain their shape and color longer than shredded wood mulches, while pine needles can nourish acid-loving plants. Usually obtained as byproducts of other lumbering uses, these commonly found mulches make use of resources that might otherwise be wasted. Pine bark chips do tend to float away in heavy rain, making them unsuitable for sloped landscapes.
Rubber mulches
Old tires can have new lives as mulch. A number of companies sell shredded rubber mulches in long-lasting natural and fanciful tints. This inorganic mulch is soft on gardeners’ knees and won’t fall prey to hungry insects. For even less maintenance around trees, look for preformed, recycled rubber tree rings.
A local rubber mulch producer may be nearby. If not, many garden centers now carry recycled rubber mulches, and some companies will ship this specialty mulch to you.
Think local
Local resources such as straw, peanut and pecan shells, corn husks, chemical-free sawdust, or composted manures work well as mulch. Some tree service companies will unload truckloads of chippings at your doorstep. When using freshly chipped wood, be sure to add a nitrogen fertilizer to offset decaying wood’s tendency to tie up soil nitrogen. Also call around to local landfills and recycling centers. Many provide free tree waste mulch.