Mulch is a vital tool in any home gardener’s shed. It keeps water in, keeps plant roots warm, and stops weeds from growing. It also makes flowerbeds and other landscaping features look better. A lot of people use shredded wood or bark mulch in their gardens and yards, but there are other mulching options you might not have thought of that will be better for your plants and soil. Keep reading to find out more.
You can use rocks, gravel, pebbles, and other stones in flowerbeds and other landscaping features to stop weeds from growing and keep water in. Rock is economical and seldom needs replacement. It also complements modern architectural features and more minimalist landscaping. In cooler climates, heat retained by rock mulch can often extend the growing season.
Unfortunately, rock mulch doesn’t return as many nutrients to the soil as biodegradable mulches do because it doesn’t break down. This is easily remedied by periodically applying fertilizers, giving plants an extra nutritional boost.
Rubber mulch is made up of 100% recycled rubber, usually reclaimed from tires. It offers a few advantages over organic mulches. It keeps the soil from getting too hot or too cold, so it can be a couple of degrees warmer or cooler than wood mulch. Because rubber is non-porous, water makes its way directly to the soil underneath without absorbing into the mulch. It also reduces fungus and unwanted plant growth, acting as a very good weed barrier.
It does have the same problem as rock mulch, though: it doesn’t break down and add nutrients back to the soil. Plus, some types of recycled rubber can release tiny amounts of chemicals and minerals into the soil. These can hurt some plant species if they get too concentrated.
In the end, rubber mulch can be a good and environmentally friendly alternative to wood mulch because it reuses trees and other organic materials, recycles trash that would otherwise end up in a landfill, and lasts a lot longer than wood mulch. This makes it a good choice.
One of the best things about organic mulches is that they break down naturally over time, adding nutrients back to the soil and making it perfect for plants to grow. A disadvantage is, because they do deteriorate, they need to be reapplied—usually each season. Besides wood, there are other natural materials that can be used as creative mulch alternatives.
Cut up or mulched leaves from trees that lose their leaves in the fall can be used as mulch in your garden beds or on your lawn. Many mowers now have a mulching feature that lets you cut the grass and mulch the clippings at the same time. This way, the finely shredded pieces go back into the yard and add important nutrients without having to be bagged. If you want to mulch fallen leaves and leave them on the grass, you can use the same feature. If you want to collect them, you can put them in yard waste bags and use them later as mulch for beds.
Leaves must be mulched or otherwise shredded to leave them on your lawn. Don’t let them sit on your grass during the fall and winter seasons. When the weather gets warmer, new grass can’t grow where there are thick layers of leaves that haven’t been picked up or removed.
Clippings from your recent mowing can be used to mulch more than just the grass itself. They can be used for garden beds as well. They have to be ready ahead of time—you can’t just throw grass clippings on your flower beds and expect nothing bad to happen. Before you use these clippings, they need to be completely dry or composted. This is because a pile of freshly cut grass mats and starts to rot, making heat that could hurt plants, so it’s not the best thing to use as mulch in your garden beds. You can spread out piles of grass clippings to dry and fluff them up every so often to keep them from matting. You can also mix the grass clippings with mulch, shredded leaves, or compost to speed up the decomposition process without letting them go bad. Grass clippings can be used as mulch, and it saves money and keeps landfills from being stuffed with bags of clippings.
If you treat your lawn with chemicals, don’t use them as mulch in your flower or garden beds.
It’s also called “pine straw.” Like other organic mulches, pine needle mulch breaks down and adds nutrients to the soil. For the best results, it must be correctly paired with particular plants. Because they are acidic, pine needles work best with plants that like acidic soil, like chrysanthemums, tomatoes, garlic, and onions. It’s easy to spread pine needles on the ground. They let water, oxygen, and other nutrients into the soil while keeping it warm. To reduce their acidity, dry them out before use.
One great way to gather pine needles for mulch is from your annual holiday tree. Don’t just throw it away; you can repurpose your holiday tree.
Cardboard and newspaper can be used in a similar fashion as landscaping fabric. They can keep weeds out and keep your plants warm under other mulches or, if they are shredded, on their own. It is best to use them in conjunction with other types of mulch. By adding to commercial mulches, cardboard and newspaper can extend the coverage and save money. They are also biodegradable and deteriorate like other mulches. This is why cardboard and newspaper are better than commercial landscaping fabric: you won’t have to replace it as often as you might with landscaping fabric. Also, they break down and work with the mulch on top to add organic matter back to the soil. While landscaping fabric can help keep weeds out of beds, it may also stop the soil from getting the nutrients that come from mulch that breaks down.
There is some disagreement among gardeners about whether newspaper colored ink is bad for plants and soil. People think that parts of newspaper with only black ink are safe, so try to mulch with these parts of newspaper.
Some cardboard boxes are treated with chemicals that make them more durable. You shouldn’t use cardboard in your garden if you aren’t sure if it has been treated.
As mulch, hay or straw can keep weeds down, hold water, and release nutrients into the soil, but it needs to be spread out thickly. It usually works best when put down first and then covered with a nicer-looking mulch. This is especially true in flower beds in the front yard, where looks are more important. Straw mulch is great for covering big areas, like lawns or gardens, because it’s cheap and easy to spread out in large amounts.
Do everything you can to make sure the straw you buy doesn’t have any weeds in it. If it does, you might lose the ability of the straw mulch to keep weeds away.
Go Mulch-Free 9 Creative Ways to Landscape Without Mulch
Mulch is the go-to ground cover for most landscaping projects. But traditional mulches like bark have some drawbacks. They break down quickly, attract termites, and need frequent replacement. What if you could skip the mulch but still get a finished, polished look?
With a little creativity you can design a gorgeous low-maintenance landscape using mulch alternatives. From organic materials to inorganic, living plants to permeable pavers, there are many options for beautifying your yard mulch-free.
#1 Use Newspaper and Cardboard
Recycling paper into mulch is an eco-friendly choice. Layer sheets of newspaper or cardboard 4-6 inches deep to suppress weeds. Top with ornamental bark or stones for aesthetics. The paper will degrade over time, adding organic matter to the soil. Pro tip: opt for black and white print papers as colorful inks may contain heavy metals.
#2 Try Straw or Hay
These classic agricultural byproducts make attractive mulches in cottage gardens or rural settings. Spread a 4-6 inch layer of straw or hay around plants to retain moisture and minimize weeds. Oat and wheat straw have a tidy, golden look. Avoid hay with lots of seeds to prevent unwanted sprouting. As the straw or hay decomposes it also enriches the soil.
#3 Use Compost as a Nutritious Mulch
Why bring in mulch when you can use your own home-grown compost? An 2-3 inch layer of compost around plants provides all the nourishment, moisture retention, and weed suppression of an organic mulch. It will also slowly improve your soil quality as it gets incorporated into the ground. For best results, screen compost to remove twigs and other debris.
#4 Blanket Beds with Fall Leaves
Autumn leaves are free for the taking and make excellent mulch. Rake up leaves and spread over beds 2-4 inches deep. They’ll form a mat that blocks light to weeds and moderates soil temperature and moisture. Leave them be or till in lightly in spring. Small leaves like maple will decompose faster while oak leaves provide longer-lasting weed control.
#5 Grass Clippings Keep Landscape Beds Trim
Like leaves, grass clippings are a readily available mulching material. Collect fresh clippings after mowing and apply 2-3 inches deep around ornamentals and edibles. Their high nitrogen content boosts soil fertility. Never use clippings from lawns treated with herbicides! Also, use dried clippings to avoid rotting and molding.
#6 Pine Needles Offer Acidic Organic Mulch
Pine needles are ideal for acid-loving plants like rhododendrons, blueberries, and azaleas. Their pleasing aesthetic suits woodland settings. Rake up pine needles and lay down 2-4 inches around plants. As they slowly decompose, the acidic needles lower soil pH. Reapply pine straw annually for the best weed and moisture control.
#7 Living Groundcovers Substitute for Mulch
Forget inanimate mulch and grow a living mulch instead! Low, spreading groundcovers effectively crowd out weeds. Choices like sedums, thyme, and creeping phlox offer beautiful flowers as they carpet the ground around other plants. Once established, living groundcovers require little maintenance besides occasional trimming or division.
#8 Pebbles and Gravel Blanket the Soil
Inorganic materials bring unique textures with no upkeep needed. Pea gravel, crushed stone, pebbles, and river rock lend well-draining color and crunch. Spread 2-3 inches deep, avoiding nooks that could trap debris. Use porous landscape fabric underneath to keep rocks from mixing into the soil. Inorganic mulches won’t improve your soil but won’t wash away easily either.
#9 Permeable Pavers Cover Bare Spots
Hardscape solutions like crushed rock, flagstone, bricks, and permeable pavers effectively replace mulch while allowing water infiltration. Use them to create patios, pathways, borders, and accents in barren spots. Compared to organic mulches, they last indefinitely with no replacement needed. Permeable pavers specifically have openings that allow rain and irrigation to penetrate to roots and soil below.
The Takeaway
Mulch has its place, but it shouldn’t be used universally in all landscape situations. Take advantage of the many mulch alternatives to create lower maintenance, longer lasting beds and borders.
Matching the right material to the right location results in beautiful, functional landscapes without the hassles of mulch. Try newspaper under ornamental stones, straw in the vegetable garden, or bluestone pavers by the patio.
With a little creativity, you can skip the mulch and still achieve a polished, cohesive aesthetic. Find mulch-free solutions for your landscape and wave goodbye to the annual chore of mulch replacement!
Step Remove Weeds
Remove existing weeds from the area you plan on mulching with a trowel, weeding tool or by hand. Be sure to get all of the plant, including the roots, out of the ground.
How to Apply Mulch
It is very important to water your soil prior to mulching. Dry soil and mulch combined can actually prevent water from soaking into the ground. Use a garden hose and allow the water to soak into the soil 6” to 8”.
Mulch/Rock, Which Should You Use in Your Landscape?
What is a good alternative to mulch in a garden?
A layer of pebbles, pea gravel, pumice rocks, or stones can be an attractive addition to a garden landscape. Rock mulch can help suppress weeds for a time—although they tend to grow through rocks eventually. Stone chips can also be a cheaper alternative to mulch and are great for a low-maintenance, minimalist garden.
Is compost a good alternative to mulch?
Green Alternatives to Mulch Beyond traditional materials, green alternatives like compost, living ground covers, and recycled organic matter can also serve as effective mulch. Compost not only suppresses weedsbut also enriches the soil with nutrients, making it a dual-purpose option.
What is a good alternative to wood chip mulch?
Cocoa Bean Hulls Cocoa bean hull mulch is another common mulch alternative. This type of mulch includes using shells of the cocoa beans, and it does just the same function as your regular mulch. This is a great alternative to wood chip mulch since it retains water better, and it’s a great way for you to increase soil vitality.
How do I choose the right type of mulch?
Here are a few factors to consider when choosing the right type of mulch. Appearance — White stone chips or pebbles are a popular alternative to wood chip mulch. A layer of white stones over flower beds or along lawn edgings looks attractive. Traditional mulch tends to lose its color over time and has less aesthetic value than ornamental pebbles.