Mulching over the soil is a common practice in most gardens and landscapes. Mulch helps regulate the soil’s temperature, conserves soil moisture, and prevents weed growth. As a bonus, it also helps keep your yard neat by covering up the soil. Alongside the process of mulching, choosing the right type of mulch is essential to creating an effective barrier.
Multiple materials can be used as mulch, with cedar making noise as one of the most popular choices.
Is Cedar Mulch Better Than Regular Mulch?
Of all the trees in the forest, the cedar is perhaps the most stately and regal. Towering overhead, its branches form a protective canopy, shielding those beneath from the harsh rays of the sun.
The cedar is also known for its durability, resisting rot and decay even in the dampest conditions – and it’s no wonder why its bark has been used as a natural mulch for centuries.
Aside from its good looks and long-lasting qualities, cedar mulch has a few other advantages over regular mulch. Its bark naturally repels pests and insects, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a natural way to protect their plants. And because cedar is slow to decompose, it will continue to provide these benefits longer than other types of mulch.
Advantages of Cedar Mulch
Despite these advantages, cedar mulch is not without its drawbacks. One of the biggest is cost – because it is a premium product, cedar mulch can be up to twice as expensive as regular mulch.
If you’re willing to invest the extra money, though, cedar mulch can be a great way to add both beauty and protection to your yard. Here are some of the advantages that come along with the added cost:
Naturally Repels Bugs
Cedar mulch contains cedrol – a naturally occurring oil that gives the tree its distinctive smell and also acts as a natural insecticide. This means that it can help keep pests and bugs away from your plants, such as termites, ants, moths, cockroaches, and carpet beetles.
Sure, regular mulch can also help with this problem to some extent. But because cedar is naturally resistant to pests, you won’t have to worry about reapplying it often.
Breaks Down Slower Compared to Regular Mulch
Cedar is still made of wood, so it’ll still naturally decompose. However, this process is slowed down significantly because of the cedar’s high oil content. This means that a single application of cedar mulch can last up to three times as long as regular mulch – making it a great choice for those who want a low-maintenance landscape.
Comes in a Variety of Colors
Aside from the protection it offers, one of the main reasons people choose cedar is its aesthetic appeal. Cedar is naturally red in color – and some gardeners are fine with it. However, if you’re looking for other striking colors such as black, bright red, crimson, orange, or brown, you’ll find some of these chips pigmented.
You can provide a beautiful contrast to your plant’s green foliage or even use colored cedar mulch to create patterns and designs in your landscape.
Take note, however, that this is only recommended for ornamental plants. If you intend to use cedar mulch on food-bearing plants, it’s best to stick with the all-natural, red variety.
Doesn’t Change the Soil’s pH
One of the common concerns with using mulch is that it can change the pH of the soil, making it either too acidic or alkaline for plants. Generally, the mulch’s pH levels may change over time, but it doesn’t affect the soil underneath it.
Effectively Prevents Weeds than Regular Mulches
Weeds are not only unsightly, but they can also steal vital nutrients away from your plants. Thankfully, mulch can help prevent them from germinating in the first place by blocking out the sunlight that they need to grow.
Cedar mulch is especially effective in this regard because of its density. Not only does it do a great job of preventing weeds, but it also doesn’t break down as quickly. This means that it protects your plants for a longer period.
Final Thoughts
Let’s face it – mulch isn’t the most attractive thing in the world. But cedar is different. Its rich color and pleasant smell can add both beauty and protection to your landscape.
If you’re willing to invest the extra money, cedar is definitely worth considering for your next gardening project. Other types of mulch such as pine bark, grave, pine needles, rubber, cardboard, and cypress can also be good choices – but cedar mulch offers the most benefits overall.