If you are looking to boost your trees’ health and help them grow big and strong, using mulch is one of the best ways to do this, on top of all your other maintenance and nurturing. When you use mulch, this helps to keep weeds and grass away from the tree. It also helps retain moisture, insulate the ground around the tree, and keeps lawn mowers at a safe distance from the trunk. If you go out to get some mulch, you will see that there are different kinds to choose from, this includes cypress and cedar. Our team at Five Star Tree Services want to go over the differences between cypress and cedar mulch and what is the best to use and when.
Cypress and Cedar Mulch Differences
Before you just pick up any mulch you come across, you need to take a look at the different attributes. For instance:
Cedar mulch comes in a red/rust colour and is made from the bark and hard wood from redcedar trees. It also smells very distinctive. It is naturally resistant to decaying, which allows it to stay good for 3-5 years. Whereas cypress mulch consists of softer wood and bark from the cypress tree. You can find it as an orange/ golden-brown colour and also smells nice. It too is naturally resistant to decay, allowing it to stay good for 2-3 years before starting to break down.
When just looking at these two mulches, they will appear very similar. This is why many people don’t know the difference between the two. Due to this, a lot of people wonder which one is better. The answer is it depends. Availability and price are a few of the biggest differences and each does have its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance, cedar mulch is more readily available but is also more expensive than cypress mulch. This makes cypress mulch more desirable for its lower price but sadly, there is a decline in the cypress population, which is why it’s harder to find.
Initially, the timber industry was responsible for the byproduct of cypress mulch. With logging diminishing, the availability is also diminishing. As for redcedar, they are more readily available in greater quantities, ranging in a vast number of habitats. They are actually considered an invasive species in many regions. But with this comes a better supply and also beneficial for the environments they are invading.
Cypress Mulch Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages
This mulch is durable (lasting 2-3 years), it’s attractive, and has a nice smell. As it starts to break down and decay, it adds nutrients to the soil and keeps the soil well insulated. Not to mention its affordability.
Disadvantages
There are some problems with cypress mulch that does happen. There’s a possibility of it increasing the soil acidity, which is not good for certain plants. Due to the small size of the mulch chips, they can be washed away easier. As previously mentioned, it has a slightly shorter lifespan than cedar and will start to break down and decay, making it necessary to replace it more frequently.
Due to the decline in the cypress tree population, it’s not a bad thing to discourage the use of this mulch, which can help preserve it in its natural habitat and help the environment.
Cedar Mulch Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages
There are quite a few benefits to cedar mulch. The first is that its strong smell is pleasant to people but will help keep harmful insects away. It is also naturally resistant to fungi and bacteria decay. It also lasts a long time (3-5 years). It’s environmentally friendly, looks nice, and suppresses weeds.
Disadvantages
The biggest disadvantage to cedar mulch is the price being quite expensive. It also doesn’t release nutrients quickly and is known to be water resistant if it is applied too thick. This makes it hard for rain to get to the roots of your plants.
How Five Star Tree Services Can Help
Using mulch is a great way to help your gardens and trees thrive, but knowing the differences between the mulch you are buying is important. If you need more advice or help with your Tree Care in Toronto, our team at Five Star Tree Services would love to help! Give us a call today at (416) 990-3355 if you are interested in our services!
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