3 Types Of Non-Wood Organic Mulch

To most people, the terms "wood mulch" and "organic mulch" are synonymous. And this is no surprise since wood is the most commonly available, biodegradable organic mulch. However, wood is far from the only organic mulch option. If you don't want to use wood mulch in your garden, but you do want to use a mulch that is natural and will break down with time, here are some other alternatives to explore.

Pine Needles

Pine trees may not lose leaves like deciduous trees, but they do drop needles. And anyone with a pine tree will want to sweep up those needles from time to time. So, landscaping companies often collect these needles and re-purpose them as mulch. One advantage of pine needles is that they are light. You can easily move a bag of them, and their weight also makes it easier for you to spread them over your garden beds. Pine needles are acidic, so they're a good mulch choice if your soil tends to be too alkaline. However, you may not want to use them for several years in a row because they may over-acidify your soil.

Straw

Straw is the stalks that are leftover after harvesting either wheat or oats. It is basically a waste product. It is often used by farmers as a bedding for animals, but there still tends to be a lot available for a low price, which makes it an affordable mulch choice. Straw is light and easy to spread. It has a rustic look that a lot of people like, and it does a really good job of blocking out light so weeds cannot grow. Straw is pretty neutral, so it won't alter your soil pH a whole lot as it breaks down.

Chopped Leaves

Fallen leaves are everywhere in the fall, and landscaping companies often chop them and turn them into mulch. They are a really good choice if your soil is low in nutrients since they break down quickly and add a lot of nitrogen to the soil. Chopped leaves are not the most attractive mulch, though. Some homeowners compensate for this by first mulching with leaves and then adding a thin layer of straw on top.

Wood mulch is definitely a popular choice, but it is not your only choice. Try using pine needles, straw, or chopped leaves in your garden instead. All three are organic and widely available in most areas.