Top 7 Types of Mulch

top-7-types-of-mulchWhen choosing what to use to help protect and beautify your garden or landscape, there are many options available. Each has their own strengths and curb appeal as well as price range. Mulch has been a popular option for years in order to protect your garden and landscape from the weather, to help keep in the moisture, to provide continual nutrients, and add a great look. Let’s look at 7 different styles of mulch that you can choose from.

  1. Straw mulch. While one of the most simple and cheapest mulches available, it leaves a lot to be desired. It can create simple walkways and provide some good protection for your gardens and landscaping. The problems that arise is that it attracts mice, and other critters, it doesn’t usually completely block the sunlight and therefore doesn’t act as a strong moisture barrier. Another drawback is that it often contains weed seeds.
  2. Newspaper and cardboard mulch. Are you feeling green? Recycling your old newspaper and cardboard and using it as mulch is excellent for your plants and soil. It can offer a strong barrier to the sun and weather, therefore protecting your soil, the plants and the moisture and it can easily adapt to the contour of the land. Since paper is biodegradable, it will decompose into the ground, therein truly recycling the paper. One of the biggest drawbacks with this mulch is the look. One solution is to use newspaper as the bottom layer and cover it over with Utah compost.
  3. Pebble/gravel mulch. Pebbles and gravel tend to be more popular as trail or pathway coverage but can also work in gardens and landscaping. It does well at absorbing heat during the day and giving it off at night which can help create a more subtle climate range. However, it doesn’t keep out the weed seeds or does it do a very good job at keeping the moisture in the soil.
  4. Pumice rock mulch. One of the big differences between pumice and other pebble or gravel mulches is that is has the ability to trap and better maintain moisture in the soil. While this works well once this type of stone is further in the dirt, when you first lay it, you’ll need to give it extra time and water in order to for the water to penetrate and really be utilized in the soil.
  5. Grass clippings mulch. This is about as green as you can get! When you add this mulch immediately after being cut, you gain the green aspect of the fresh grass as well as a great fragrance. With any living green plant, once cut from its’ root it will turn brown, but as it decomposes, it adds great organic fertilizer to your garden and landscaping area.
  6. Compost mulch? Compost provides exceptional nutritional value to your garden and landscape. This will provide value for seasons to come. However, as a decorative mulch it is a little bit lacking. One solution is to mix this with another type of mulch, using this as the first layer of the mulch. It offers great coverage over your dirt, locking moisture in and keeping weeds out.
  7. Shredded bark mulch and wood chips. One of the most popular and favored of all types of mulches is the wood mulch in its various forms. With a never ending option of colors and types of wood from which to have this mulch made, it’s no wonder that it tends to be a favorite. Add to that the cheapness of it as well as it often being readily available and you have a winner for most people. This type of mulch offers exceptional moisture retention as well as weather barrier for your garden and landscape areas. A drawback is that it does break down, but this is also a positive as the decomposing of the mulch can help add nutrients to the ground and it gives you an opportunity to add new life and color when applying a new batch.

As one can see, there are a myriad of different types of mulches and something to suite everyone. Whether one prefers organic, “green”, or cold stones, you can always find something that will make your garden or landscape look even better. If you’re looking for something more industrial – check out agbeltingoutlet.com.  They’ve helped farmers and landscapers with several different types of belts for their equipment to help them get as much out of their labor as possible!