Mulch has many uses in a homeowner’s yard. This type of ground cover can provide nutrients to the soil and plants and act as a weed barrier to control unwanted plant growth. Mulch also works to control soil temperatures to protect plant roots and prevent soil erosion. Homeowners use mulch in a variety of places, including lawns, gardens, walkways, and more, to improve the look of their lawns and gardens.
Though organic materials like bark and wood chips are typically the most common mulch variety, there are other forms that are just as beneficial. I’ll compare seven alternatives to traditional mulch and help you determine which is best for your lawn and garden. If you’re looking for a lawn care service to take care of your lawn maintenance, our experts recommend TruGreen as the best lawn care service on the market.
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7 Alternatives to Traditional Mulch
These are different items you can use instead of mulch.
1. Bark and Wood Chips
Often used in flower beds and around small bushes and shrubs, bark and wood chips can provide nutrients to the soil as they decay. Both are fairly inexpensive and can be found at most gardening supply stores. Cedarwood chips are the most common, as they can keep fleas and other pests away.
Buy now: Bag of wood chips
2. Pebbles and Rocks
Effective in retaining soil moisture and minimizing weed growth, pebbles and rocks are an excellent mulch alternative for flower beds. Rocks are especially economical in cooler climates, where heat retained by rock mulch can extend the growing season.
Because rocks don’t decompose, they don’t provide nutrients to the soil and therefore aren’t a good choice if you’re looking for a nutrient-rich mulch alternative. This can be easily remedied by fertilizing your lawn to provide your plants and flowers with the necessary nutrients. Check out our recommended lawn care fertilizer services to find the best option for your needs.
If you decide to use pebbles or rocks, remember that they can be difficult to remove.
Buy now: 2-pound bag of polished white pebbles
Use rocks and pebbles or pine needles and leaves as alternatives to traditional mulch
3. Leaves and Pine Needles
Leaves and pine needles are an affordable nutrient-rich mulch alternative. Rake and gather fallen leaves each season and redistribute them above your soil. Shred leaves for the best results. Let the shredded leaves dry out before adding them to your garden to reduce bacteria growth and pest infestations.
Pine needles decompose and add nutrients to the soil, just like other organic forms of mulch. You can buy bundles of pine needles at your local gardening store or you can gather pine needles from your annual holiday tree and spread them around your garden. They work best with plants like holly, gardenias, roses, and chrysanthemums.
Buy now: Premium, long-needle pine straw mulch
4. Grass Clippings
Grass clippings are a cost-efficient alternative to traditional mulch. However, you should dry them out or compost them beforehand to prevent potentially-damaging heat from affecting plants. If you treat your lawn with chemicals, don’t use grass clippings in your flower or garden bed.
5. Rubber Mulch
Some people use a rubber mulch alternative to reduce fungus and weed growth and insulate the soil from hot and cold temperatures. Rubber mulch is made of 100% recycled rubber, usually from reclaimed tires. This type of mulch is similar to rock mulch as neither option gives nutrients to the soil. Rubber can also leach small amounts of chemicals into the soil, which can be harmful to some plants.
However, rubber mulch lasts significantly longer than wood mulch and cuts down on the use of trees and other organic mulch material.
Buy now: 2-pack of rubber mulch
6. Compost
If you’ve been wondering what home composting means, compost enriches the soil. It adds nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen to your garden. Compost can be one of the cheapest mulch alternatives if you make it yourself with discarded vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, dead leaves, and water. Apply compost above your garden or lawn in a thin layer.
If you are considering this option, read our article on how to use coffee grounds for garden enrichment.
7. Newspaper
Newspaper mulch is effective in keeping weeds at bay, retaining moisture, and managing soil temperatures. Though this is a more functional alternative to traditional mulch, it’s not as visually appealing as other options. Moisten the newspaper slightly before laying it above the soil so it stays in place. Then, add a thin layer of organic mulch on top. Apply five to eight sheets of newspaper at a time.
If you plan to use newspaper without another type of mulch on top, you’ll want to shred it before applying it to your garden. Newspaper is biodegradable and will deteriorate like other mulches.
Mulch Alternatives: Final Thoughts
When choosing a mulch, it’s important to consider where you live, what area in your yard you want to use it in, and the effects the material you choose will have on your soil. Wood chips are the most commonly used, but alternatives can include natural materials like straw, leaves, pine needles, and grass cuttings. Compost is a solid option as well, as it can provide nutrients to your soil.
Rubber mulch is an inorganic option that lasts a long time, but doesn’t provide nutrients to your soil and isn’t eco-friendly. That said, this mulch is often made from recycled rubber material, like tires. Pebbles and rocks are another more permanent solution for those that want to avoid using rubber in their yard. Newspapers can also be an effective solution, especially for homeowners looking to recycle your weekly papers.
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FAQs About Mulch Alternatives
The best mulch for your yard depends on several factors, including your climate, soil type, and the specific plants in your landscape. Wood chips or bark mulch are easily available and suitable for most gardens. This type of mulch breaks down slowly and can help to improve soil structure over time. Pine needle mulch is beneficial for acid-loving plants and works well in heavy clay soils.
Compost provides nutrients as it decomposes. Straw is an excellent option for vegetable gardens and around fruit trees, but watch for weeds growing as straw can contain weed seeds.
For drought-tolerant plants, gravel or river rocks is best. These options also work best for homeowners seeking permanent solutions. Green mulch is a type of rubber, inorganic mulch that’s long-lasting and low-maintenance, but isn’t eco-friendly.
To choose the best mulch for your yard, consider your water retention needs, pH requirements of your plants, availability, and cost of materials, and your aesthetic preferences.
There are several sustainable and eco-friendly alternative mulch options that can be great for landscaping. Compost, made from decomposed organic matter, adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down. It can also improve soil structure and support beneficial microorganisms in the area. You can also use grass clippings, leaves, straw, or hay, or pine needles.
Each of these alternatives has its own benefits and drawbacks. The best choice depends on your landscaping needs, local climate, and availability of materials.
Yes, it’s often helpful to use different types of mulch for different areas of your landscape.
Vegetable gardens prefer lightweight, fast-decomposing mulches. Compost, straw, or grass clippings tend to work well, and keep your garden weed-free.
Avoid using wood chips in your vegetable planting beds, though. They take nitrogen from the soil as they break down and can make your plants lack nitrogen.
Flower beds can tolerate a wide variety of mulch depending on the flowers in your bed. If landscape fabric is not something you want in your yard, try bark chips or shredded leaves. For plants that love acid, pine needles are a helpful choice. Perennials, for example, do well with a wide variety of mulch, but typically prefer organic material.
