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All mulch is not created equal; understand the source from which it came
Yes, it’s true. I’m a big fan of mulch. I always have been. And the more I learn about all the direct benefits, the bigger fan I become. Recently I took a day to explore the small town where I now live, to scout out what would become my new sources for plants, soil amendments, landscape supplies and of course, mulch.
When I arrived at the town’s local source for these products, my heart raced. I could see in the distance, mountains of what appeared to be well ground and thoroughly composted mulch — black gold as I like to think.
To the workers that day, I must have looked like a hungry dog, trying to contain my excitement at the prospects of getting one tiny morsel of steak, tossed my way from the Sunday dinner table. In fact, it was either the saliva running down my chin or the obvious overall excitement, but no matter; the proprietor offered to drive me down to the mulch piles in his truck for a closer look.
Did I mention that it was cold and raining? I barely noticed, but in hindsight, it was no surprise that the driver stayed in his truck with the heater blasting. Upon inspection, I saw what looked to be exactly what I was hoping for; a nice combination of coarsely ground branches, sticks and leaves, composted and ready for my garden…or so I thought.
Buyer Beware
I asked my host how he was able to create such a massive and endless volume of product. He proudly went on to explain that he had many sources: the City delivered waste from fallen trees and such, landscapers and weekend warriors offloaded their accumulations of a hard days work, etc. But then he went on to say something that took me back.
In addition to these ideal suppliers of raw material, there were others that were not as attractive – to me anyway. Some of this mulch was the remnants of former decks, play sets, fence posts and pallets. What I heard was lots of treated wood, chemicals, paint, varnish, etc. All that translates into four letter words if you speak organics!
This seal on bagged mulches ensures they’re safe
As a gardener trying to be as organic as possible, sadly this mulch source was no longer an option. It was no coincidence that about that time, I suddenly noticed the rain and how cold it really was. I had just had the equivalent of the proverbial wet blanket thrown over my back. What an eye opener!
Some would argue that any chemicals at this stage of the process were already leached out or that it’s better to recycle this wood into mulch, rather then burn it, adding to the air pollution problem. And there is some truth to both statements.
Frankly, I don’t have the space to give you the answers to a better alternative here. However for me, I am much more cognizant of where my mulch is coming from. And hopefully, maybe you will be too. Ideally, make your own. It is surely the best and safest way to know the true source of what is going back into your garden and into your soil.
About Joe Lamp'l
Joe Lamp'l is the Host and Executive Producer of the award winning PBS television series Growing A Greener World. Off camera, Joe dedicates his time to promoting sustainability through his popular books, blog, podcast series, and nationally syndicated newspaper columns. Follow Joe on Twitter
I’d like to know what Vigoro Brown Mulch by B and B Bedding is colored with guaranteeing its color for a year. I’m not sure I should use it in our vegetable garden.
So I’d like to know what material the mulch is made from and what they use to color it.
I have been growing organic vegi garden for several years. My concern is buying compost from these big companies that are getting their leaves brush extra, from the city of seattle and other resources, to me these clippings could have air pollution on leaves, as well as who knows what sprays were used in the garden debri , and for some reason in the back of my mind having problem agreeing with table scraps in the compost, like meats and pasta’s. Where do you think I could look for some good organic compost in my area. We live in the Marysville / Stanwood, Washington area.
I agree that the best way to know what’s in your compost is to make it yourself. But relying on an outside source eliminates the ability to really know what’s in it. The only way I know that you can buy compost that has specific standards around what inputs are included is to look for a seller of “Certified Compost”, a term used by the U.S Composting Council to identify such compost. I don’t know about where you can find that in your area, but here’s a link to get you started: http://compostingcouncil.org/seal-of-testing-assurance/