30 Sep 3 Types of Mulch to Consider for Your Landscaping

Mulch, the top layer of shredded soil material, is either organic or inorganic. It protects the soil in outdoor landscapes from hardening and moisture from evaporating rather than reaching plant roots.

However, mulch varies as much as plant care requirements. Choosing the correct one for your garden can be challenging.

At Santa Rita Landscaping, we have the #1 landscape designers in Tucson, AZ, alongside a list of the top three types of mulch that professional landscapers and the average resident loves to use. Consider our options below that span from nutritional compost to decoration.

1. Compost

Compost is organic matter that consists of brown and green material. Green material has nitrogen-rich components like decomposed matter, including bits of twigs and leaves.

However, brown material is carbon-rich with shredded cardboard and wood chips. It must also maintain the correct air and soil moisture levels to break down material properly. 

While it’s similar to the look of soil, this darker mix provides added nutrients to your plants and flowerbeds. It also retains soil moisture so your vegetation doesn’t lose sustenance.

2. Cut-Up Bark

Cut-up bark is your best bet for mulch in hilly areas where the land sits at a slant. In such areas, the pieces of bark latch onto one another, staying in place rather than tumbling down slopes. Also, because it comes from natural sources like cedar trees, cut-up bark is environmentally friendly and breaks down to create nitrogen-rich areas in poor soil. 

This sturdy material also keeps nutrients within the earth by preventing soil erosion from wind or water runoff. 

3. Rocks and Stones

Pebbles, rocks, and stones do the opposite of most other types of mulch since they draw heat from the sun, which radiates into the soil. Because it warms the soil, place them around cacti and succulents that love higher humidity.

Otherwise, place them around landscapes you tend to overwater as a preventative method for drought-tolerant plants. You can also place them in shaded areas where the stones won’t collect much heat. 

Residents mostly use these toppings for decorative purposes since the inorganic material doesn’t need replacing. It also maintains the look of your garden by restricting weed growth since the solid material creates little wiggle room for them to pass the soil’s surface. 

While they’re more expensive than other mulch types, they come in a wide variety. They range from colorful pebbles to large river rocks, so find your ideal fit for your garden and budget.  

35 Years of Promising Landscaping and Counting!

Whether laying landscape stones or other inorganic or organic materials, ensure you’re using the best types of mulch to make your yard flourish. Determine the layer of mulch to use by plant type, environment, and budget. Whether you’re laying mulch down for the first time or preparing for another spring, trust our professional team. 

At Santa Rita Landscaping LLC, we have 35 years of experience transforming yards into oases. Make yours one of them. Call (520) 623-0421 in Tucson, AZ, or (602) 686-0292 in Phoenix, AZ, for commercial or residential services!