With moisture retention and soil temperature regulation being among its most important uses, cedar mulch is understandably a popular and commonly used type of mulch, especially when you consider how attractive and long-lasting it is. But Linda Chalker-Scott, an extension horticulturist at Washington state University, reports: “there is virtually no documented evidence for allelopathic activity in either Thuja or Cedrus spp. Wind is another reason why soil moisture can deplete quickly, but a layer of mulch protects the soil from any light winds and is, therefore, able to help the soil remain moist. Cedar wood is native to the mountainous areas of the Mediterranean region, the Pacific Northwest, and the western Himalayas.

I can always toss them into the yard debris bin and let the local waste management company worry about it. Most people find the scent of cedar pleasant, perhaps due to its previously mentioned associations with old hope chests. The mulch itself can be natural or dyed; this is for aesthetic purposes; while the natural color is reddish brown, it is often died black, yellow, dark brown or red, which adds to the decorative value of flower beds and gardens when you use it. Try it and see, it isn't like you can break compost, worst things that might happen would be 1-a pile that is too slow to compost or 2-a stinky pile that needs more carbon cover material.Grass cuttings are often used as a mulch, which you could save up from mowing your own lawn, or ask your neighbor if you could have their grass cuttings. However, there have been many discussions over the safety of these materials among exotic pet owners and advocates. I notice woodworms like it very much as evidence by their presence in my stash of walnut cabinet wood. Since the information about the problems with wood shavings is circumstantial and hasn't been evaluated in the context of health problems in exotic pets, it is hard to make firm recommendations. This is because wet mulch pressed up against the stem or trunk can cause the plant to rot; it also deprives the trunk or airflow, which can encourage disease ( Royal Horticultural Society).

It shouldn’t be much of a problem as long as the mulch stays on the soil’s surface, but once it is mixed into the soil, decomposition speeds up and is spread evenly through the soil. Most plants don’t like to have their roots cooked in the heat of summer, and cedar mulch can help prevent this by essentially shading the soil and keeping it from getting too hot. Cedar wood naturally repels insects, which is why it is a desirable type of wood for use in bedroom furniture, as it resists mite infestations and does not attract moths.Since wood mulch can be highly flammable when dry, it’s not a good choice in areas where wildfires are common. A common tip for gardeners to help keep their soil moist for longer is to ‘mulch over the soil,’ but what does this actually entail, and which mulch is best?

The humus that mulch eventually produces also will help sandy soils retain more water as well as improve the drainage of clay soils. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Difficult to locate a consistently fine and clean bark to use to mulch my outdoor potted plants -- really like this because it is perfect for my pothos to fill in between large arieal roots at the base, and also has helped keep the pests off my soft-leaved tropicals that they like to chew on.

Not sure I have enough mass to get enough heat to cook seeds so short of throwing in weeds these old wood shavings are my main potential source of browns to balance things out. Mike said, "The plantopsy revealed roots growing right down to the cedar where they stopped like it was a barrier. The natural oils from the tree offer a pleasant aroma while acting as a natural repellent to insects and rodents. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. The concerns over pet bedding safety seem to have led to a bit of an explosion of alternative bedding products on the market.These oak alternatives are based on a modern stragtegy for usage and maceration in the wine-, alcohol- as well as in the alimentary industry. The color of cedar wood can vary, but it tends to have a red or orange hue, which contrasts beautifully against green foliage and helps the plants to stand out.