Types of Mulch and Benefits

When it comes to picking the perfect kind of mulch for your Florida landscaping, there’s a lot to take into consideration and a ton of options you can choose from. From wood to shells and everything in between, we’re here to give you a quick look at some of our top picks along with the pros and cons of each and how to apply them. Let’s get going!

Organic vs Inorganic Mulches

Let’s start off with the basic question: Which types of mulch is better for your lawn?

Organic mulches are made from once-living things, like trees. This means that they will provide extra nutrients to your lawn when it breaks down…but it does break down, some more quickly than others. In order to keep it doing its job of preventing weeds and soil erosion, you should replenish it whenever it hits 2 inches in depth. It’s recommended to do this by just adding more on top, as replacing it entirely can damage the plant life underneath.

Inorganic mulches are made up of things that were never alive, like rocks or rubber. While these mulches don’t break down and settle like organic ones, they also don’t provide any additional nutrients for your lawn. Because of this, it’s not an ideal mulch for vegetable beds but it’s good for tree beds and such.

Now, time to get into types of mulch.

Pine Straw

This is one of the least expensive types of mulch you can get, but it’s also incredibly effective! Pine straw helps prevent things like soil erosion and compaction, and it also doesn’t wash away as easily, and it’s very environmentally friendly! The downside? It settles and breaks down at a quicker pace than many others.

Eucalyptus Mulch

Looking for an organic mulch that provides a pretty look and (possibly) keeps the pests away? Eucalyptus mulch is your pal. This mulch is made up of shredded eucalyptus chips, which helps to hold the moisture in your soil as well as smells nice. This mulch is also considered renewable, since these trees grow pretty quickly, and will last longer than pine straw. Eucalyptus is also reputed to keep away various little bugs that could bother your lawn!

Pebbles

If you want a more decorative mulch, pebbles can do the trick. They allow water to pass through without absorbing very much of it, and it will help to keep your soil in place. However, it doesn’t help with keeping moisture in the soil, as it does heat up and dry out the soil in hot weather. Because of this, though, it keeps the weeds to a minimum.

Rubber

Manmade types of mulch helps to block out the sun and keep your soil from changing temperature too much. Rubber mulch also helps to prevent erosion, and it will last for a pretty long time. It also doesn’t soak up any water, so the water all goes right to the ground underneath. Downsides? It smells weird when it heats up, and it could have toxins that are less than ideal for your soil.

Seashells

For the true Florida style, why not give seashells a try as mulch if you have a beach house? Crushed seashells count as organic mulch, as they’ll break down over time and give your soil some great extra nutrients. They help with drainage, so your plants will get their water, and they can even keep certain pests away. They are, however, sometimes a bit sharp around the edges so you’ll need to be careful with your placement.

Ready to get mulching? Take some time, do your research, and happy spreading! Reach out to us at Fishtail Landscaping and we can help you decided on a landscaping layout and choose types of mulch that conserves water and looks great. We have designed and installed some of the best landscaping in and around Ft Myers.