The best mulch to use depends on your specific garden needs, but overall, research and expert recommendations highlight arborist wood chips as an excellent choice. They provide many benefits such as weed suppression, soil temperature moderation, and soil enrichment, while being cost-effective and widely available
. Here is a breakdown of mulch types and their best uses:
Organic Mulches (Highly Recommended)
- Arborist Wood Chips: Considered the "gold standard" for perennial beds and landscapes. They contain a mix of bark, leaves, cones, and branches, improving soil structure and moisture retention
- Bark Mulches (Pine, Cedar, Oak, Maple): Durable, good for sloped or wet areas, and work well around shrubs and trees. Pine bark mini nuggets are popular for their natural look and soil benefits
- Compost and Leaf Mold: Great for vegetable gardens and winterizing beds, they enrich soil and retain moisture
- Pine Shavings and Sawdust: Suitable for acid-loving plants like blueberries
- Straw: Useful for annual vegetable gardens to retain moisture and suppress weeds
Inorganic Mulches
- Stone or Gravel: Long-lasting, good for drought-resistant plants but can increase soil temperature in summer
- Plastic Sheeting or Landscape Fabric: Effective for weed control but may restrict water and air, making them less ideal for long-term use
- Rubber Mulch: Long-lasting and weed-suppressing but potential toxicity and soil impact are concerns
Specialty Mulches
- Eucalyptus and Melaleuca Mulch: Environmentally friendly options that deter pests like termites and regulate soil temperature, though regionally specific (e.g., Florida)
Summary Recommendation:
For most garden and landscape uses, arborist wood chips or shredded hardwood bark are the best overall mulches due to their soil benefits, cost- effectiveness, and availability. For acid-loving plants, finely shredded conifer bark is ideal. For vegetable gardens, compost, leaf mold, or straw are excellent organic choices
. Remember to choose mulch based on your plant types, garden goals (weed control, moisture retention, soil enrichment), and local availability. Organic mulches generally improve soil health over time but require periodic replenishment every 2-3 years
