What Is Hardwood Bark Mulch

Pine bark and hardwood mulches make up just two of the myriad types available.

What is hardwood bark mulch.

And choose bark type mulches such as pine bark nuggets before shredded wood types such as cedar bark mulch cypress and hardwood. Mulch performs a key role in an attractive healthy garden or landscape but the array of choices can prove daunting. Plus hardwood bark mulch is the best for amending your soil. Despite the name hardwood mulches actually decompose faster in the landscape than cedar or pine bark mulch owing to a higher cellulose content.

Keep in mind that mulch reduces maintenance but doesn t eliminate it. Compare click to add item bark mini nuggets 2 0 cu. Pine is a softwood. Hardwood mulches are derived from the shredded or chipped bark and heartwood of trees including oak poplar and maple.

Most people s gardens grow plants that prefer their soil neutral to sweet. Hardwood bark and lumber processing scraps are hammered. Find hardwood bark mulch bagged mulch at lowe s today. Click to add item bulk colored wood mulch 20 cubic yards to the compare list.

If you want pine mulch it is available and is usually called pine bark mulch. Compare click to add item bulk colored wood mulch. In general trees with needle shaped leaves are softwoods and trees with non needle shaped leaves are hardwoods. This is shredded hardwood as it says on the bag.

The problem is it s expensive. Ft to the compare list. It decomposes into a rich sweet smelling black dirt and it looks ever so tidy while doing it. 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.

Organic mulches have to be replenished periodically usually every two to three years. Hardwood bark mulch is the best for those plants. Bark mulch or chippings can be used on paths to prevent muddy areas due to excess wear but unless they are large or thick pieces they are unlikely to be as long lasting as hardwood chippings or play grade bark.