As with hardwood bark mulch, it’s best to find a source that is composted — and if formal composting isn’t an option, an old pile that’s been sitting around a while is still better than fresh.

Mulch can be almost any loose aggregate material that will stay put and not significantly reduce air exchange out of the soil. But what kind is best?

As with hardwood bark mulch, it’s best to find a source that is composted — and if formal composting isn’t an option, an old pile that’s been sitting around a while is still better than fresh.

As with hardwood bark mulch, it’s best to find a source that is composted — and if formal composting isn’t an option, an old pile that’s been sitting around a while is still better than fresh.

As with hardwood bark mulch, it’s best to find a source that is composted — and if formal composting isn’t an option, an old pile that’s been sitting around a while is still better than fresh.

However, sometimes people really want to know which mulch is most aesthetically pleasing. Then, I recommend two inches of compost with about a one-inch veneer of aged, double-shredded hardwood or ...

Mulch is a blanket, an organic material applied to bare soil around plants. Effective mulches include shredded hardwood bark, pine needles, coarse compost, and shredded native tree trimmings.

Hardwood Bark: This is another product that absolutely must be composted before use as a mulch. Freshly ground hardwood bark frequently forms a water-shedding mat in the dry summer.

Other budget-friendly mulch options include some types of bark or shredded hardwood. Depending on the type selected, these varieties can insulate, retain moisture and last longer than straw.

When hardwood bark mulch is stacked in tall piles and allowed to stand for long periods, the material in the center of the pile begins to compost anaerobically (without air) and may sour. The term ...