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Here’s the Skinny on Mulch
By Pat Farris
Polk County Master Gardener
Are you confused about mulch? With all the different
types of mulch available to gardeners, it’s no wonder
you’re confused. Here’s the skinny on mulch:
Cypress Mulch
Cypress mulch is widely available and inexpensive, but it
doesn’t necessarily perform the best, and there are
growing concerns about its use in Florida. Many
gardeners have chosen cypress mulch for its supposed
insect repellent properties. The University of Florida
Pine Bark Mulch
performed lab tests and found that cypress mulch did
not repel termites. To top it off, cypress mulch tends to hold more water than other mulches,
making less water available to your plants.
Several communities and various groups in Florida and Louisiana have banned the use of
cypress mulch, characterizing cypress mulch as a nonrenewable resource. Dade County no
longer allows the use of cypress, and the Florida Department of Transportation Standard
Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction states that cypress mulch may not be used.
Other communities, schools and universities throughout the south have also discontinued its
use, in favor of more sustainable products.
Cypress forests benefit the environment in many ways: providing habitat for animals, storm
surge protection in coastal areas, water filtration, a reservoir for flood water, and as a beautiful
part of our natural heritage. Since this tree is very difficult, if not impossible, to reseed after
harvest, every acre of cypress that is cut down is
another acre lost forever. It is for these reasons that
our own Florida Friendly Landscapes program does not
recommend the use of cypress mulch.
Pine Bark
Pine bark is a byproduct of the pine timber industry.
Pine forests are also renewable, which makes this
mulch an earth-friendly option. Pine bark does not
settle quickly or float away during heavy rainstorms.
Mulched Bed
Pine Straw
Pine straw is raked from the floor of pine forests, or from your own or neighbor’s yard and
allows more moisture to penetrate than other “chunky” mulches. The same amount of pine
straw will cover more area than other mulches.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus mulch does provide insect resistance, according to the study sited above. It is grown
in plantations for the purpose of mulch harvest and it grows quickly, so it is a renewable
resource.
Melaleuca
Melaleuca mulch is made from exotic, invasive trees. The melaleuca or “punk” tree was
imported decades ago to dry up south Florida to provide more land for housing. We are now
spending millions of dollars trying to eradicate this water-hogging pest tree, which has
overtaken large portions of the Everglades. Melaleuca was also proven to be the most termite
repellent of the mulches tested. Indeed, the termites starved to death on this one. Although
it’s not widely available, you can purchase Melaleuca mulch from the Extension Office in
Bartow, as a part of our Master Gardener service to the community. The melaleuca sold as
mulch has been cured at a high temperature, to ensure that no viable seeds are present in the
final product. If you want to see this mulch become more widely available, you should ask your
retail garden store to carry it.
Utility/Recycled
Utility/Recycled mulch is available for free at the Polk County Landfill, as a byproduct of tree
trimming and necessary tree clearing. While the origin of this mulch is unknown, this gardener
has used it without any problems, except the occasional bits of shredded debris -- mostly
gardening gloves.
Oak Leaves
Oak leaves are free, free, free and readily available, on your own property or nearby. While
some gardeners are not pleased with the way oak leaves look, they make great mulch for those
that see it differently. One Master Gardener I know was seen driving her pick up truck just
ahead of the refuse truck, collecting bags and bags of free oak leaf mulch that her neighbors
had so tidily packaged up for her. It is a bit puzzling to this gardener that many of us pay people
to remove oak and pine droppings from our landscape, then pay for the production, packaging
and transportation of commercially packaged products to replace them.
Synethetic
Synthetic mulch is a recycled product, derived from old tires. If you choose to go this way, I’d
advise that you first lay down a garden fabric barrier, so that the good thing you’re doing by
using a recycled waste product won’t be undone when the non-degradable rubber sinks into
the sandy landscape and does not biodegrade.
All organic mulches eventually break down and sink into the landscape, requiring replacement.
Although you have to periodically renew these mulches, they do add beneficial organics to
your soil as they break down, improving water retention and increasing nutrients. Even though
it doesn’t last forever, you can feel good that you are continually “building better soil.”
The benefits of mulch in your garden or landscape are numerous. Mulch helps retain soil
moisture, moderates soil temperature, reduces water runoff during heavy down pours,
improves soil texture, suppresses weeds and increases the beauty of the landscape.
For best results, apply mulch about three inches deep, keeping it a couple of inches away from
the trunks of trees and plants to avoid encouraging fungal growth and other problems that can
result from constant dampness there. Pull mulch away from the foundation of your house, so
insects won’t find easy access there. Rake mulch that has become compacted and refresh it
with new mulch as needed.