How to Pick the Right Color Mulch

Mulch performs several functions in a garden:

• It helps plants become established and grow by improving seedling survival, enhancing root systems and seed germination.
• It improves soil moisture and nutrition.
• It maintains optimal soil temperature.
• It reduces soil erosion, compaction, weeds, pesticide use, salt and pesticide contamination, and watershed pollution.
• It improves the overall look of garden beds and high-traffic areas.

Use mulch on garden beds as a top dressing or on high-traffic areas where the lawn or ground is often soggy. Mulch helps absorb moisture and provide a nice walking path.

Mulch is available in a variety of compositions and sizes:

• Bark mulch is made from woods such as cedar and pine and has a medium consistency. Bark mulch interlocks so it won’t wash away. It’s ideal for gardens on a slope or walkways. It decomposes into the soil, enriching your garden’s health over time.
• Bark nuggets are a good choice for flat gardens where mulch is less likely to wash away. Because of their size and chunky consistency, bark nuggets don’t break down as quickly as bark mulch or pine straw. This product will need to be reapplied less frequently, saving you time and money.
• Pine straw needles hold in place well and are relatively slow to break down, making them ideal for slopes and pathways.

Bark mulch and bark nuggets are available in a variety of colors. Mulch that hasn’t been color treated is more prone to fading than color-treated mulch.

Tip: You can make mulch from dry shredded leaves and grass, but don’t use chemically treated grass clippings, especially around your planted edibles.

In areas of your garden where you don’t need to enrich the soil but still want ground cover, try one of these:

• Landscape rocks, such as pea pebbles, river rocks and marble chips, do not break down. Lay them once and refresh them as needed rather than annually. They look great in arid areas or as an edging in the garden. Landscape rocks are available in a variety of shapes and colors. However, they are difficult to remove if you change your mind.
• Rubber mulch is available in a wide variety of colors and is a good choice for a safe surface. Use it under play structures and play areas. Rubber mulch is made primarily from recycled tires and provides a soft cushion for those inevitable falls. This mulch maintains its color and doesn’t decompose. Keep it contained with a wood, brick or edging border to prevent it from contaminating nearby lawns, gardens or watersheds.

For mulch that will go with your flowers, pick a color that works with your blooms.

White and yellow flowers look beautiful with red mulch.
Purple flowers conflict with red mulch but look stunning against black and brown mulch. If you're growing plants with dark foliage, almost any mulch color will provide a nice contrast and help make the plants stand out.

To match a mulch color to your home, consider the style and materials used in its construction.

• Brown mulch can soften the look of red brick, while black mulch will add to the crisp look of sharp, squared edges.
• Use red mulch to give a grounded look to a home with light-tone siding like white, cream or pale blue. Red mulch is especially well-suited to a palette of gold and warm tones.
• Black mulch around green foliage, such as hosta and sweet potato vine, makes the colors stand out. For gray and contemporary homes, use black mulch.

Once you choose the type and color of your mulch, you’ll need enough for a 3-inch layer in your garden bed.

To add mulch to your garden bed:

• Take old branches or scrap wood pieces and stake them throughout your mulching area.
• Measure and mark 3 inches from the ground on the stakes.
• Add the mulch to your garden in piles between the stakes.
• Use a rake to spread the mulch up to the 3-inch mark on the stakes to ensure it’s spread out evenly.
• Use your gloved hands to spread mulch close to plants, shrubs and trees but leave a small circle around each. Avoid putting mulch against the base of plants because it can cause rot at the site.
• Remove the stakes.

Tip: Wear gloves, a long-sleeve top and full-length pants. Mulch has a way of getting under clothing seams and can be irritating to the skin.