June 19, 2009 - I'm often asked which type of mulch I prefer in shrub beds. Pine straw and hardwood mulch are very popular mulches. The quick answer is, that I like both. Pine straw is fairly easy to distribute, less labor intense when doing large areas, has interlocking needles that help with weed control, and pine straw helps with minor erosion issues. Pine straw also has what I like to call, "fluff appeal". When pine straw is spread or “fluffed” out, it is more forgiving if you accidentally add too much to an area. Pine straw breaks down fairly quickly and allows me the opportunity to freshen up my beds two times a year without the fear of over doing it. Two to six inches is a good amount to add to a shrub bed. If your pine straw looks too "fluffy" it will settled in about two weeks time.

Hardwood mulch has a beautiful look, holds up longer than pine straw, and is easier to walk on in most places. I like to use hardwood mulch for nature trails, transitions from lawns to other areas in the yard, or around the water hose. Hardwood mulch works great near water features like swimming pools or fountains. It does not seem to move as much during windy days like pine straw. Hardwood mulch does not break down fast, but it does fade in the sun, like pine straw. Fresh hardwood much looks great and professional, but years of adding fresh hardwood mulch can be bad for the plants if not done correctly. Plants need to breath and too much hardwood mulch can limit that process. I sometimes remove old layers of hardwood mulch before adding new, to make sure the layers are not too thick for the plants to breath. This is a very labor intense but very beneficial task. If removing the old hardwood mulch is not practical for you, then it is possible to just add a very light or dusting layer of hardwood mulch on top of the older layer. This has worked well for me. This gives the fresh look without the heavy layer.

Cypress mulch and pine bark mulch is good mulch as well. I follow the same guideline for them as I do for hardwood mulch. Rock, lava rock, and or dyed wood chips don't fit the style of the landscaping I use, so I have not really used them. I really don’t prefer the look that they give a landscape.

Using mulch is a really simple way to add curb appeal to your investment, and can be beneficial to your plants, if done correctly. Mulch helps reduce evaporation in the soil, so irrigation can be reduced. Mulch also lowers the soil temperatures in the summer and raises them in the winter. Mulch helps prevent weeds, and works great for combating minor soil erosion. Adding mulch around your trees can keep mowers and other lawn equipment off the tree trunk base and reduce damage. If you have an area that is heavily traveled or an area that is possibly parked or driven on, a thick layer of mulch really helps prevent soil compaction in the area and especially around trees.