Selecting Mulch

When determining which garden mulch or landscape mulches are best suited for your landscaping needs, there are many factors to consider. The best way to figure out which will work for your needs is to view the various landscape mulches separately and judge each based on the same criteria.

Different mulches can affect soil pH differently. Here is a look at some different types of mulch that may acidify your soil.

Bark, Wood Chips and Sawdust Mulches

Appearance: Good

Insulating value in summer: Good

Insulating value in winter: Good

Need to remove in spring: Yes

Nourishment and aeration afforded to underlying soil by decomposition: Fair

Lets water and oxygen move freely into soil: Good

Ease of application and maintenance: Good

Pine Needle Mulches

Appearance: Provides the reddish-brown color (although less vivid) that store-bought redwood bark mulch offers for free

Insulating value in summer: Good

Insulating value in winter: Good

Need to remove in spring: Yes

Nourishment and aeration afforded to underlying soil by decomposition: Fair

Lets water and oxygen move freely into the soil: Excellent

Ease of application and maintenance: Good

Stone Mulch

Appearance: Good if used around trees, cacti and succulents, but not aesthetically appropriate for vegetable or flower gardens

Insulating value in summer: Fair. Stone tends to heat up, but it also retains much of that heat within itself.

Insulating value in winter: Fair. Again, while stone easily grows cold, it keeps much of that cold off your soil.

Need to remove in spring: Yes

Nourishment and aeration afforded to underlying soil by decomposition: None

Lets water and oxygen move freely into soil: Yes

Ease of application and maintenance: Good

Mulching with Partially Composted Leaves

Appearance: Fair

Insulating value in summer: Excellent

Insulating value in winter: Excellent

Need to remove in spring: Yes

Nourishment and aeration afforded to underlying soil by decomposition: Excellent

Lets water and oxygen move freely into soil: Fair, unless leaves are very finely shredded

Ease of application and maintenance: Fair

When deciding if the garden mulch needs to be removed in spring, remember that heavy organic mulches can smother emerging spring plants. This is less of a factor for plants that remain alive aboveground throughout the winter. But even the latter can benefit from having the soil around their roots warmed by the spring sun, which can be achieved by the temporary removal of the garden mulch.

Now that you know a little something about mulch, you have the knowledge to make your gardening endeavors easier and help your plants and flowers achieve a more beautiful and productive effect. Enjoy the fruits of your labor.