Lifestyles

My husband dropped our chainsaw off for service last weekend. As my son and I sat in the car waiting for his return, I eyeballed at least nine different stacks of bagged mulch products lining the sidewalk in front of the store. Then I looked across the street to the gas station. Beneath the sign declaring unleaded to be a wallet-busting $3.35 was another sign that said "Red Cypress Mulch: 4 bags for $10." One of my favorite local nurseries has three different steaming piles of mulch they'll deliver via truck to your driveway; plus they've got another eight kinds of bagged mulch products. How the heck do you know what to buy? And what are we really getting when we buy four bags for $10? Is there such a thing as bad mulch?

Technically, mulch is defined as any product applied to the soil's surface to inhibit weed growth, stabilize soil temperature, retain water, and keep up appearances. Mulch could be rocks; it could be black plastic; it could be grass clippings; it could be compost. But in Pittsburgh, when people talk "mulch," they almost always mean a shredded bark or wood product. These types of mulches are great for use around foundation plantings, trees and shrubs. Many gardeners prefer mulches of compost, mushroom soil or leaf mold (composted leaves) for vegetable, perennial and annual areas because these products are lighter and they help to amend our clay soils much faster than bark products. So when you go out to buy some mulch here in Western Pennsylvania, first know what you are going to mulch, then make sure you are buying the right stuff.

If you are, indeed, mulching trees and shrubs, and you have decided on purchasing a shredded bark or wood product, there are some things to consider first. Depending on their source, these mulches may hold some contaminants. Mulches made from recycled wooden pallets sound like a nice, earth-friendly idea -- except when the pallets stored chemicals in their previous life; or when the wood comes from a construction site where things like lead paint and asbestos were present. Dyed mulches are almost always made from this type of waste wood because it holds the dye easier than bark products, so they aren't necessarily a good choice despite their curb-appeal. There's also a possibility that recycled wood mulches contain treated lumber.

If you want to be sure the mulch you choose is at least free of arsenic-based preservatives, and that the bag contains what is stated on the label, you'll need to look for the seal of The Mulch and Soil Council. Created in 1972 to help "police" mulch producers, the council randomly tests samples and confirms that companies conform to their "truth-in-labeling" requirements (FYI: The council does accept certain types of dyed mulches into its program). For bulk purchases, there is no seal of approval. You'll need to look for shredded hardwoods made from waste bark pulled off trees before they are milled into lumber. Single shredded hardwood bark is a great choice. Double or triple shredded bark is fine too, though it has a smaller particle size and a finer texture.

Many bagged potting soils and organic amendments also are certified by the Mulch and Soil Council. Soil products must pass a strict growth test ensuring that plants grown in them meet minimal performance standards. They also look at consistency, and they make sure that if a bag says "Dehydrated Cow Manure," that's exactly what the consumer is getting. The presence of The Mulch and Soil Council's stamp of approval is a good start, but there is more you can do to ensure you are getting a quality product.

First and foremost, buy from a reputable source. Most local nurseries are happy to cut open a bag to let you examine what's inside. Some even have samples in little boxes on the front counter so you can check out all the choices before you buy. Bagged mulches, potting soils and other soil amendments should not smell particularly strong, and their consistency should be uniform throughout the bag.

For bulk purchases, ask a lot of questions about the source of the product ingredients. Some bulk compost producers use sewage sludge, which is a no-no for organic gardeners (and a no-no for all gardeners in my mind).

And finally, ask around. Check with your neighbors, your local cooperative extension agent, your friends and family. Chances are, someone out there has experience with a quality product, purchased at a reasonable price, somewhere close to home.

For a list of brands bearing The Mulch and Soil Council's seal of approval, visit their Web site.

Horticulturist Jessica Walliser, co-author of the book "Grow Organic," can be heard from 7-9 a.m. Sundays on KDKA Radio's "The Organic Gardeners." You can also find her teaching at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, where she has been a faculty member for more than 12 years.

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