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Table of Contents

Pine Bark Vs. Hardwood Mulch

Erica Leigh
Table of Contents

A thick layer of mulch applied to your garden beds will protect and enrich the soil and improve the health of your plants. Pine bark and hardwood mulch are both good choices.

Types

Pine bark mulch comes in fine grain/sawdust, shredded, and wood/bark chip “nugget” varieties. Hardwood mulch comes from trees like maple and oak, and is usually shredded. It may be made from bark, wood, or both.

Durability

While pine bark mulch in the wood or bark chip form can last one to two years, finer grained pine bark and hardwood mulches usually last only one year.

Rain Effects

Pine bark nuggets can wash away in heavy rain; finer grained varieties of hardwood and pine bark mulch will adhere to the soil.

Problems

Hardwood bark mulches can grow harmless but potentially unattractive fungi. Water thoroughly after applying hardwood bark mulch to encourage beneficial bacteria and discourage fungi growth. Raking away hardwood mulch and adding pine bark mulch eliminates fungi.

Application

Whichever mulch you use, weed thoroughly first and then apply a layer 2 to 4 inches thick to prevent weed growth. Both pine bark and hardwood are ideal for weed suppression.