With Spring in full swing, your gardens begin to flourish with colorful blooms! And there’s no better way to keep your garden beds healthy and vibrant than through mulching. At Traprock Landscaping, we take pride in offering homeowners and avid gardeners a wide array of mulch options, from natural hemlock to cedar and dried pine. However, you are left with a decision to make – what’s the best type of mulch for your garden?
In this blog post, we aim to provide a comprehensive guide to selecting the right mulch for your garden in Rhode Island. You’ll gain a better understanding of the benefits of mulching and the best types of mulches available to keep your gardens looking lush and vibrant.
The Best Mulch for Your Rhode Island Garden: Choose Wisely
Why mulching is important?
But mulch isn’t just about adding beauty to your garden. In fact, it plays a critical role in keeping weeds at bay and retaining moisture and temperature in the soil. This, in turn, protects your plants from erosion and provides them with much-needed nutrients for growth and health.
Not only does mulch help retain moisture in the soil, but it also suppresses weed growth and provides nutrients to your plants as it decomposes. However, with so many options available, it can be tough to decide on the best type of mulch for your garden. That’s why we’ve put together a guide to the four types of mulch that we recommend: Natural Hemlock, Natural Blend, Dark Pine, and Black Forest.
Natural Mulch vs Dyed Mulch
Many customers ask the question: Is dyed mulch safe for my children and pets? The short answer is yes! We use only non-toxic dyes that are safe for your family and pets. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the color fading quickly like with organic mulch.
According to UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry Program, the primary concern with colored landscape mulches is not the dyes used for coloring. Rather, it is about the sources of wood chips and the possibility of contamination with toxic substances.
Their article explains that most of the wood used for making colored mulch comes from recycled wood, and while this is beneficial for recycling waste wood materials, some of the recycled waste wood used for making landscape mulch products can be contaminated with chemicals such as creosote and CCA. Carbon-based and iron oxide-based dyes are used to color wood chip mulch, and there is no evidence that these dyes are toxic. It’s important to become familiar with the supplier and the source of the wood used in making colored mulch and consider contacting a private environmental testing lab if there are concerns about possible contaminants.
Source: Read full article here
Best Mulch for Garden In Rhode Island That We Recommend
At Traprock Landscaping, we take great care in choosing the types of mulch we offer to our customers. We’ve carefully selected each of our mulch products based on their unique benefits and the needs of our customers.
We only use only non-toxic dyes and locally sourced mulch that are safe for your family and pets. With many years of experienced landscapers in Rhode Island, we recommend the following natural and dyed mulch for your garden:
Natural Hemlock
This type of mulch is ideal for garden beds that get a lot of sun throughout the day. It’s a natural insect repellent, which can help protect your plants from pests. Hemlock mulch helps retain moisture in the soil, while also suppressing weed growth and regulating soil temperature.
Natural Blend
This type of mulch is perfect for gardens with a mix of sun and shade. It offers all the same benefits as hemlock, but with a bit more texture to provide additional visual appeal. Our natural blend mulch is a mixture of different types of wood, including pine, hemlock, and hardwood. It’s an affordable and versatile option that’s great for suppressing weed growth and retaining moisture in the soil.
If you’re looking for a more uniform and long-lasting option, then dyed mulch might be the way to go. We only recommend non-toxic and safe options, so you don’t have to worry about the safety of your children and pets. Our two favorite dyed mulches are Dark Pine and Black Forest.
Dark Pine
Dark Pine has a rich, dark color that looks great in any garden, and it also lasts longer than most natural mulches. Some benefits of this type of mulch include weed suppression, moisture retention, and regulating soil temperature. It’s an affordable option that is sure to enhance the visual appeal of any garden.
Black Forest:
Black Forest, as the name suggests, is a very dark black color, and it is an excellent choice for creating contrast in your garden. This mulch has a dark black hue and is also long-lasting. It’s great for suppressing weeds and retaining moisture in the soil, making it an ideal choice for those who want a low-maintenance garden.
In conclusion, choosing the right type of mulch for your garden can be a tough decision, but with our recommendations of Natural Hemlock, Natural Blend, Dark Pine, and Black Forest, you can’t go wrong. Just remember to consider your budget, your aesthetic preferences, and the needs of your plants when making your decision.
If you have any questions about mulching in Rhode Island or want to schedule a mulching service for your garden, feel free to contact us at Traprock Landscaping – we’re always here to help!