What Is Cedar Mulch?
Cedar mulch is one of the most popular and commonly used types of wood chips on the market today. The bark from red cedar trees is used to create this mulch product, which can be found at almost every home improvement store in your area.
These types of wood chips are also available in scented varieties that may add a pleasant smell to your yard. Cedar is naturally resistant to many different insects, including termites and even ants , so you can rest assured knowing it’s safe for use around kids and pets.
Cedar is an incredibly affordable type of mulch as well; often being less expensive than other comparable options such as pine. Many kinds of pine offer similar benefits, but often cost more than cedar.
Why Cedar Mulch Is Popular:
Cedar mulch is popular due to its ability to break down slowly, and still provide a good amount of protection. Additionally, it’s very attractive and smells great due to the cedar oil that it contains.
It will last anywhere from 1-2 years before you need to reapply more mulch; compared with other types of wood chips that generally only last half a year at the most.
Why Cedar Mulch Is More Expensive:
Even though this type of wood chip offers many benefits over others on the market, it is also quite expensive in comparison.
The same amount you buy can be used for 2-3 times as long as some other kinds of wood chips, but that doesn’t make it any less expensive upfront.
Depending on your budget, it may be possible to use another kind of wood chip much more effectively than cedar mulch.
Reasons Why Mulching Is Good For Your Garden:
Mulch is important because it helps to add nutrients back into the soil, while also preventing weeds from growing.
It will break down over time and replace existing mulch or topsoil as it decomposes; leaving you with a fresh layer of mulching material that will help your plants grow strong & healthy.
Why Cedar Mulch is Not Good For Your Garden:
Cedar mulch has several downsides that may make it less appealing than other kinds of wood chips. First off, many people have allergies and problems with cedar mulch due to its natural oils.
Also, this type of wood chip can be more expensive to use on a regular basis, so if you’re trying to save money on mulch you may want to consider using pine instead.
Advantages Of Using Cedar Mulch In Your Garden
You can use cedar mulch just about anywhere in a garden or around shrubs, trees, and other plants. As mentioned above, this wood chip is resistant to most insects as well , which makes it an ideal choice for anyone who wants their garden to remain insect-free.
Cedar mulch smells great too; so you can buy scented varieties if you wish to have the nice scent in your yard at all times. This type of wood chip also breaks down much slower than pine mulch, which means it’s a safer bet for those who want an eco-friendly option that still provides some protection from weeds.
Finally, you’ll find that cedar tends to be softer than many other kinds of mulch, which means you should be able to walk on it with your shoes or garden tools without destroying it.
Disadvantages Of Using Cedar Mulch In Your Garden
Like any type of mulch, cedar may become dusty if not applied correctly. You’ll need to be sure and use a very thick layer so that the wood chips are covered well, otherwise, they can end up floating throughout your yard.
Also, this kind of mulch has natural oils in it that can cause allergies for some people; especially those who suffer from asthma and other respiratory problems when exposed to certain types of plant or tree oils. The smell is also quite strong, so many people may actually prefer pine over cedar due to the difference in aroma.
The decision to use cedar mulch should ultimately be based on your own preferences as well as your specific needs. For example, if you’ve got a problem with weeds or pests around your garden, and want to make sure that they aren’t able to ruin it; then using cedar is absolutely worth considering.
By applying this type of wood chip to your plants, you will also be adding some extra nutrients back into the soil for even greater benefit.
Before running out and buying some cedar mulch, however, ask yourself if you may have any problems with allergies or asthma when exposed to tree oils like those found in this kind of mulch. If so, pine or another mulch variety may be a better option for you.
On the other hand, if you want something that smells great and lasts longer than much of the competition; cedar mulch may be just the thing to help keep your garden healthy & strong!
Natural Or Died Cedar Mulch?
The type of cedar mulch you choose to use depends entirely on your own tastes and preferences. You can choose to use the natural variety, or opt for a dyed version that has been colored brown. When it comes down to cost and effectiveness though, you’ll find that there really isn’t much difference between them.
When you color wood chip, you’re actually just adding an artificial substance on top of the real ingredients; so when buying dyed cedar mulch don’t worry too much about whether or not it’s naturally brown in color.
The main reason some people prefer one over the other is that they like the smell of fresh-cut cedar vs synthetic dyes. Which one works better? It’s difficult to determine since most painted products have small amounts of additives that may or may not be harmful to your plants.
That said, most people prefer the natural variety because it’s free of harsh chemicals & other toxins that can contaminate soil over time.
Cedar that is dyed red or another color may last longer, but it tends to cause problems with algae growth in the garden.
Uses Of Cedar Mulch
Cedar mulch can be used for a wide variety of landscaping needs; from controlling pests to adding nutrients to the soil.
Many gardeners love using cedar chips in vegetable gardens because they are very effective at warding off harmful insects that may try to eat your crops and plants . It’s also a great way to keep slugs and other critters away.
If you’re struggling with weeds, it is also possible that applying cedar mulch around the perimeter of your garden will help to prevent them from growing back as quickly.
In fact, some experiments have shown that treated areas were able to completely eliminate small weeds while areas without mulch saw new weeds come up within 10 days.
The good news is that the wood chips will eventually begin to break down and decompose on their own; adding back nutrients into the soil, which can help your plants grow and flourish even more.
Top Fertilizer Benefits Of Using Cedar Mulch?
Cedar bark mulch has many benefits when it comes to fertilizing your garden.
One of the best ways to apply cedar chips in this way is by mixing them with other types of mulch. When combined with certain organic materials like grass clippings or leaves, for instance, you’ll have a great mix that breaks down much faster than just using one type alone.
You should keep in mind though that if you’re going to do this kind of gardening, you will need to get a mulching machine; otherwise, the wood chips on their own might not decompose at all.
Using cedar bark mulch also helps create a healthy environment for earthworms in your garden. These creatures love tiny burrows which they dig in the soil, and you’ll find that many of these tunnels made by them help improve drainage throughout the soil as well.
Organic materials like compost are typically more effective than wood chips alone when it comes to adding nutrients back into the soil over time. When combined with other products, however, you’ll find that the process speeds up dramatically.
When using cedar mulch to enrich your garden, keep in mind that this won’t work with every plant. Other plants that might be particularly sensitive to fertilizers may not do as well when combined with cedar chips, so you’ll need to watch them closely and make adjustments as necessary.
When using cedar mulch in your garden, you should note that it can also keep weed seeds from sprouting by sealing the soil of where they are planted. Theoretically speaking, this means that you won’t have to worry about maintaining a weed-free garden for a few years if you use enough of it.
In theory, though, mulches like straw or bark would work even better because they tend to break down much faster. Cedar chips are an excellent choice for growers who only want to maintain their garden for shorter periods of time.
When To Add Cedar Mulch?
Cedar mulch can be added to your garden at any time of the year, but spring is considered by many people as the best time. If you’re just starting a new bed or planting area for instance, then adding cedar chips in the spring will give them plenty of time to break down and decompose before fall arrives.
Early spring is also known for having warmer weather which helps speed up this process of breaking down organic material into its natural components.
One thing that may surprise you about using cedar mulch, however; it’s important to know that when first putting it around your plants and crops, it tends to draw moisture from the soil. In fact, in some cases it can even draw more moisture away than the plants themselves will need to help them thrive.
If you’re concerned with this happening in your garden, then consider adding the mulch a little at a time. You don’t need to use anywhere near as much when starting out as you would if your entire bed is covered; plus this will allow you to get a feel for how different plants react before putting down other products like compost or manure.
One thing that should be kept in mind though is that cedar mulch doesn’t begin decomposing right away; taking several months until it actually starts breaking down within the soil and releasing its nutrients back into the dirt.
If you’re using cedar mulch in your garden to keep it weed-free, then it’s a good idea to put down a thick layer of this product. Weed seeds have a hard time penetrating wood chips like cedar mulch because they tend to be impervious to water which helps prevent them from taking root within the soil.
Besides helping maintain your crops without having to add other products into the soil itself, adding wood mulches like cedar chips is also an excellent way to prevent erosion on slopes and hillsides. If done correctly, these kinds of organic materials help hold large amounts of dirt in place so that it doesn’t wash away with heavy rains or other types of precipitation.
Since wood mulch like cedar chips breaks down over time, it also helps create a well-balanced environment for the surrounding plants and soil. This keeps erosion of dirt from becoming an issue, reducing the overall amount of work that needs to be done in the garden while still providing your plants with all of their natural nutrients.
Wood mulches are made primarily out of wood fibers, and these water-soluble materials can actually help remove excess nitrogen from your garden bed. You’ll find this is especially true if you happen to use too much fertilizer when trying to provide sufficient nutrition for your crops. If left alone over a long enough period of time, however, most organic mulches will begin breaking down into their basic components.
Much like other organic materials like manure, this means they begin releasing carbon dioxide as they decompose and decay within the soil. The carbon content of wood mulches is in fact, where the name “carbon sequestration” originates. If you’re not familiar with it already, then this process can help remove excess carbon from the atmosphere which helps reduce greenhouse gases that lead to global climate change.
While cedar mulch is a great product for helping maintain your garden over an extended period of time, there are some precautions that you need to take before using it just anywhere.
For one thing, since it breaks down quite slowly; even when used around plants and crops year after year; cedar mulch can actually tend to foster certain types of mold and fungi that can have a negative effect on the growth of your garden.
This is especially true if you happen to use it around plants like rhododendrons, azaleas or camellias which are highly susceptible to molds. This is because these organic mulches tend to store moisture for long periods of time, making them an ideal environment for certain types of fungi and bacteria. If left unchecked, however, this can lead to damage in the trunks of some types of trees as well as cause mildew on leaves, flowers, and other plant parts.
If you’re using cedar mulch within your garden beds, then be sure to keep a close eye out for any signs of mold starting to grow on any of your plants. If you do happen to notice anything unusual, then there are certain steps you can take while trying to prevent the spread of fungus in your garden.
One thing that can help is making sure that all of your tools and gardening implements are cleaned before leaving them outside for the night. This removes any chance of mold spores spreading into other areas where they could start growing into larger colonies. If possible, however, it’s best not to use mulch around these types of plants at all because if left alone long enough; they tend to attract and support more harmful molds like penicillium and aspergillus.
If you’ve already established a bedding area with cedar mulch though, then you can start taking steps to remove any signs of mold that may already be growing. First and foremost, there are a few different types of fungicides available on the market today for this purpose. With fungicide in hand, you’ll want to spray the affected areas as soon as possible.
If done correctly, however, wood mulches will actually help reduce potential health risks from pesticides so they’re safe to use if properly maintained over time. If you have younger children or pets around your yard, however, then it’s advisable to avoid using them entirely just for their own safety reasons.
