Selecting a Mulch

Choosing the right organic mulch is key to finishing your landscape. The best mulch complements both your landscape and home, taking into account features like the roof, house color, front door, window shutters, and driveway material.

Consider cypress, pine, colored recycled wood, or pine straw as options. For most landscape themes, black mulch, small pine bark, or pine straw work well. Choose color combinations thoughtfully — red or orange mulch pairs with green, tan, or soft yellow, while black, as English satirist, Terry Pratchett said, goes with everything.  Black mulch makes your landscape pop!

A common issue with organic mulch is that it tends to float—since wood naturally floats in water. To prevent mulch from washing away, avoid piling it too high next to sidewalks or driveways, or placing it near areas with poor drainage and exposed gutters that release heavy rainwater. Ensure that the recommended 3” of mulch is level with hardscape. This means that the ground needs to be 3” below the sidewalk. Alternatively, you can use rock mulch, install a splatter guard, or place a flat stone to slow down or block the flow of water.

A common misconception is that organic mulches attract termites, but termites are actually drawn to moisture. Keeping your home's foundation wet—such as through irrigation or gutters draining too close—creates conditions termites prefer.  Maintain mulch, whether organic or rock, at 1”–2” from your foundation to allow it to dry out.

Mulch naturally decomposes after one to two years, which is good for your soil. You don’t have to put down the same amount of mulch each application. Apply only enough mulch to keep it at 3”. Make sure it does not crowd the top of your root system. You want to see the flare at the bottom of your shrub or tree.

Organic mulch offers numerous advantages for your landscape: it shields against temperature extremes, reduces water loss, and inhibits weed growth. Mulch is essential for effective landscaping. Don’t leave your home without it.

Photo credit: Teresa Watkins, Pinterest.