Today we are going to talk about the pros and cons of cedar mulch, plus I'll share my other favorite (and least favorite!) mulches. After reading this, you'll be able to confidently choose the best mulch for your yard!
You might be wondering what does it mean to mulch a garden and why do people bother to mulch their gardens? Mulching a garden simply means that you are applying some sort of protective layer on top of the soil. The type of mulch you use can help to aid in soil erosion, prevent weed growth, moisture retention, attract beneficial insects or deter the bad.
Some plants actually require the use of mulch to keep the soil temperature more consistent and protect the bulbs against extremely climates. Today we are going to dive into cedar mulch and all of its pros and cons.
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Different Types of Mulch
- Organic Mulch
- Cedar mulch
- Pine Needles
- Grass Clippings
- Wood Chips
- Straw and Hay
- Cypress mulch
- Dyed mulch (unspecified hardwoods)
- bark
- Inorganic Mulch
- Stone
- Gravel
- Plastic
- Pieces of Bricks
The Pros of Cedar Mulch
- Curb appeal - Cedar mulch is one of the most beautiful mulches that can be applied to your garden beds and has a pleasant aroma. When mulched, it appears as wood shavings that have pieces of dark bark mixed in. When you go to your local gardening center, you will notice that cedar mulch can come in various colors, such as black, red, and brown. It's a good idea to read the bag of mulch carefully because some of these decorative cedar mulches are actually treated with chemicals and byproducts to make sure they are not full of bugs and plant killing matter.
- Durability - Wood of cedar trees take a long time to decompose and break down compared to the other organic material mulches. If applied as directed with a 3-4" layer on the soil surface, this mulch can last between 3 and 4 years prior to having to add fresh mulch. It's an excellent choice for longevity!
- Weed Control - Mulches are commonly used as a weed barrier. When a physical barrier is applied correctly, a layer of mulch inhibits the sun from reaching the weed seeds that are embedded in the soil, serving as a natural weed suppressor. Western red cedar and other cedar varieties are a naturally pest resistant organic matter to add to your landscaping!
- Moisture Control - All plants and shrubs usually need a consistent soil moisture to thrive. This can be a hard to maintain in very hot climates. When using cedar mulch around you plants and shrubs, it will act as moisture retainer for the soil. Again, being it prohibits the sun from reaching the soil, it controls the amount of evaporation that can result.
The Cons of Cedar Mulch
- Cost - There are many type of organic mulch out there, cedar mulch tends to be one of the pricier types of mulches on the market. This can cause for an issue when maintaining your landscape over time being the mulch does decompose and will have to be replaced at least every 3 or 4 years.
- Decomposition - Cedar mulch is one of the mulch options that take a long period of time to break down compared to other organic mulches, but it does eventually break down. Because it breaks down, you will more than likely have to add more mulch or completely replace it every 3 to 4 years, if not sooner due to fading of the color.
- Nutrient Depletion - Due to the fact that when cedar mulch decomposes it can deplete the nitrogen in the soil, it may require that you have to spend some time mending the soil nutrient levels every fall and re checking them in the spring.
- Color: When you use colored cedar mulch, such as black, red, or brown, it will fade over time. I know I stated that it doesn't have to be replaced until year 3 or 4, but depending on your personal preference you may want to replace it on year two. Some people do not mind the fading, but others will add some new mulch to the garden every year to keep the colors of the mulch bright and vibrant.
- Potential of Mold: Cedar mulch is known for its mold growth if used in an environment that is high in moisture. Mold can smell, kill plants, and cause damage to the soil when it gross.
Does cedar mulch repel insects?
When searching for mulch for your flower beds, you will want to make sure to research the actual properties of the mulch you are investing in. Bugs repelled by the natural oils in cedar include: termites, some ants, moths, mosquitoes and cockroaches.
Where Should Cedar Mulch Be Applied
Okay, so now we have talked about all of the pros and cons of cedar mulch and you are probably wonder where in the world cedar mulch is best used.
If you love the look of cedar wood chips, then cedar mulch is a good choice for garden walkways or in gardens that are full of shrubs and trees with no tender plants. If you use cedar mulch in your garden, keep in mind that it can cause trouble when planting new plants. Every time you plant a new plant in a cedar covered garden, you will have to dig a spot in the cedar mulch that will remain mulch free. This means that you could potentially have to dig through 5 inches of mulch prior to reaching the soil.
How to apply mulch around plants
Don't let the mulch rest against the stem of the plant. There is a high chance that it will stunt or completely prevent plant growth by acting as a layer of protection that will prohibit the plant from getting enough sun.
There are many ways to apply mulch to a desired area. Most people will use a weed barrier on the ground prior to laying the mulch. This weed barrier can be something as cheap as cardboard or as expensive as landscape fabric. The best choice would be to use a barrier under the mulch.
Another rule of thumb when apply mulch around any plant, shrub, or tree is to make sure the mulch does not go up the stems of the plants or bases of the tree trunks.
What are other common mulches?
There are other types of wood mulch that you can use as well. Pine mulch is very similar in appearance to cedar mulch, but not in water retention properties. It is generally cheaper, as pine is readily available in many areas. You will commonly find pine mulch being a popular choice for large area public places. Playgrounds or parks use mulch because it has good draining properties and is known for its beautiful natural color.
Why Not to Use Mulch in Vegetable Gardens
It is in your best practice to not use wood mulches in your vegetable gardens, unless it is as a walkway between your raised beds. Due to the fact that the wood of the mulch will readily deplete the nitrogen levels of the soil, the roots of the plants will not be able to source the appropriate nutrients for your plant, which in turn will cause your vegetable plant to due.
A thick layer of mulch can also over power the plant by covering up too much of the stem, causing it to break or die.
Best Mulches I Use
For our garden, we use several different kind of mulch. In our main raised garden bed area, we love the look of several inches of long-lasting nature sourced river rock on top of a fabric weed barrier. It's been a great addition to our garden, but we do not currently use rock in our landscape beds area. We live in a hot climate, and rocks (like lava rock) tend to get incredibly hot during the summer, which can damage our plants.
We add organic matter to our garden in the form of heavily mulched cow manure. This is a mix of manure, straw, dirt and kitchen scraps. We let it break down in piles and it is the best option for nourishing our garden plants.
FAQ
Yes, it will greatly reduce both weed and desired seeds from sprouting. If you have an area that you would LIKE to sprout seeds, gently scrape away the area of bark mulches and allow the small plants establish before reapplying it around the base.
Dyed mulches include brown, red and black mulch. This hardwood mulch controls moisture to help reduce water use and regulates soil temperature. Natural mulch, such as pine bark mulch, cypress mulch, and cedar mulch helps suppress weeds, retain moisture in the soil and insulates plants from extreme temperatures.
All soil is prone to water evaporation. Wind and sun exposure can help to speed up this process. When we add mulch over our garden and landscaping areas, it helps to preserve our water resources by slowing the natural rate of evaporation.
When the soil becomes too warm it will result in evaporation of the moisture in the soil and the plant roots can become overheated. When the soil becomes too cold it can freeze the root bull of plants, which can lead to death of the plant or the plants inability to bear fruit. Maintaining soil temperature is a big perk of cedar!
Every year I plant a large garden bursting with fresh fruits and vegetables that grow well in garden zone 6B. Here are guides to my favorite (and most successful!) garden crops. From Tomatoes to Potatoes and Garlic Scapes to Pumpkins, browse around to learn from my own successes and failures in the garden!
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