I’m from the Northeast. Cedar is the way to go if you are trying to repel ticks and other insects. In our area, Betty’s Azalea Ranch sells it bagged or you can order it up in bulk. A wonderful worker at Meadows Farms yesterday told me that in his country, they use basil rubbed behind the ears, on the neck, etc, to repel gnats.

If you already have another type of mulch, you can buy a product called “Cedarcide” which is finely ground cedar bark. Sprinkle it into your flower beds to greatly reduce/eliminate the tick population. It won’t hurt your kids or pets.

Anonymous wrote:Also for the love of all that grows, dont mulch around your trees. Only in the US do we do this stupid practice.

Mulching properly can help trees— particularly in the dry weather we are having.

I don't get this anti-mulching idiots. I know this country is deeply divided but don't you have something bigger to worry about?

Don't mulch!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get double shredded hardwood mulch. Lots of high school booster club fundraisers right now. Lowe's and HD mulch is usually dyed and crappy.

The shredded stuff stops water from reaching the soil. I use the large annoying chunks. They move around but they dont form an impenetrable mat.

You must be using wood chips.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t use mulch. It looks stupid. Plant flowers closely together and you won’t have weeds.

Gardener with many decades of experience here. I wish this was true.