Mulch questions!

[Anonymous]

OK, DCM help me out. I grew up in the south and one of my chores was to spread the mulch. The mulch we had was large dark brown wood chip looking things. we picked it up at Home Depot or Lowe’s, nothing special. And it lasted quite a long time.

I live in Fairfax county and every time I buy hardwood mulch here it ends up being so finely ground and it almost looks like soil. I think because of that it does not last very long and I keep having to buy more.

I can’t seem to find that larger sized wood chip looking mulch like I grew up with and I’ve looked at all the big garden centers.

Can anyone help me understand why the mulch in Virginia is so finally ground? Or where I might be able to find some thing with a bit more size to it?

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure I’ve seen the fine wood mulch you mention. I’ve bought mini pine nuggets in Arlington. I use pine straw when I can get it from my neighbor’s yard. And I also use free leaf mulch from Arlington County. I’d like to try their shredded wood mulch—will be curious to find out if it’s fine like yours.

[Anonymous]

Are you looking for pine bark nuggets? I remember buying some a few years ago. Large chunks. I wanted them for an area near the shed, but my understanding is people usually don’t want them for gardens because they wash away easily, take a long time to break down, etc.

American Plant has these: https://americanplant.store/pine-bark-nuggets-2-cu-ft/

I just bought shredded pine mulch from Merrifield yesterday. Not what you’re looking for but it seems not too fine.

[Anonymous]

Hardwood or leaf mulch are best for your garden. Personally I prefer leaf mulch because it decomposes into organic matter by the following spring and you pile some more up and it really nourishes the soil. It looks like leaf mulch until the first big rain, so some people don’t like it but it’s absolutely the best solution.

Hardwood mulch is better than conifers… but decomposes quite slow and will give you that “old mulch” look by mid summer and you’ll have to completely reapply.

Softwood/conifers don’t stay nice for long at all and don’t do much for the soil either.

High quality composted leaf mulch is the way to go. And it’s totally sustainable as it’s often made by composting municipal leaf collection. Leaves are nature’s homemade mulch.

[Anonymous]

I remember the mulch that you are talking about. I haven't seen it in many years. If you are looking for larger wood mulch you should try one of the large tree services that will sell you the ground up wood from their business. I know that JL Tree services will sell you mulch of a larger size that will be a clear untreated color.