It also comes in many sizes from shredded to large nuggets.
Pine vs hardwood mulch.
Hardwood mulch is available at lowe s home depot so i have used it but pine bark is the most plentiful.
Pine mulch breaks down reasonably fast improving the organic content of the soil.
Like pine straw wood mulch insulates soil during cold temps and cools it during the summer heat.
If budget is an important consideration then pine straw is a great choice.
I even use sifted pine bark mulch to get pieces around 1 8 to 1 4 to mix into bonsai soil with small river rock turface.
Colored wood mulch is often made from recycled wood that can contain objectionable additives including arsenic from pressure treated wood and is not always 100 hardwood pressure treated wood containing arsenic was phased out a decade ago by the epa but old crates and pallets may still be entering the recycling stream.
You may need to amend soil to counteract this if your plants have a strong preference.
Hardwood mulch is often made of oak but may be compiled of a mixture of hardwoods.
So your mulch is going to breakdown faster than hardwood.
However they do biodegrade more quickly and therefore need to be replenished more frequently which offsets.
Pine bark mulch is a popular variety that is usually less expensive than other mulches yet still provides the benefits of moisture retention soil conditioning and weed prevention.
Hardwood mulches are derived from the shredded or chipped bark and heartwood of trees including oak poplar and maple.
On a positive note properly manufactured hardwood mulch releases alkaline benefits to soil as it decomposes raising the ph level a bit.
Mulch performs a key role in an attractive healthy garden or landscape but the array of choices can prove daunting.
Mulch vs pine straw.
It breaks down quicker than pine straw so it seems to not last as long.
Pine needles aka pine straw hardwood mulch is alkaline.
Hardwood mulch comes in a wide array of varieties and colors from hardwood to pine to cedar to cypress and then from warm red tones to rich browns to the deepest black.
Despite the name hardwood mulches actually decompose faster in the landscape than cedar or pine bark mulch owing to a higher cellulose content.
Pine bark and hardwood mulches make up just two.
Pine needles are acidic.
And pine is generally less weight than hardwood so when it rains the rain will build up under the mulch and it will wash away.
Nonetheless this price benefit is noticeable only in the short term.
Hardwood mulch decomposes more slowly so it may not require two applications each year.
Pine needles are less expensive and go further.
Believe me i know first hand.
