3 Best Types of Mulch For Your Pennsylvania Garden

Take the mystery out of mulching! This guide from our expert landscaping team will cover essential questions, such as: what are the different types of mulch we recommend? Does type of mulch matter? And which type is best for my Pennsylvania yard? 

What Is Mulch and What Does It Do?

Mulch is anything that you spread over your soil to improve the look of your landscape beds. It can be made of a variety of materials, but more on that below. 

What does mulch do? It has several major benefits, including: 

• Locking in moisture so your plants don’t go thirsty. How? It prevents water from evaporating too quickly—so yes! That means you don’t have to water your beds as often. 
• Stopping weeds from taking over your garden. How? It acts as a roof, blocking sunlight from reaching the weed seeds. 
• Regulating the temperature of your soil. How? It insulates so the ground doesn’t get too hot or too cold. 
• Improving the look of your flower beds. How? It adds a crisp, uniform look with high contrast against your plants. 

Basically, mulch is the missing piece of the puzzle for a beautiful, low-maintenance garden.

Quick Comparison: What Type of Mulch is Best for a PA Garden?

Does type of mulch matter? Yes, it does! Different types of mulch impact the soil and plants in different ways. What type of mulch is best for you depends on the cost, its visual appeal, and where you’ll be using it.

Types of Mulch: Organic

The first category of mulch we’ll cover is organic mulch. All types of organic mulch are made out of living materials. Its major benefit is that it decomposes over time, adding nutrients to the soil and building out the microbiome. However, that means you have to replace it more often. 

What is a soil microbiome? It’s the community of billions of microorganisms living in the layers of soil, like a miniature city! You can find all types of organisms, including fungi and bacteria, to name a few. These are extremely beneficial to the health of your soil and plants. 

Below, we’ve picked our top two types of mulch that we recommend for Pennsylvania yards. While there are other types beyond these two, these are your best bet to see improved curb appeal and healthier growth. 

Type 1: Shredded Hardwood Mulch

This type of mulch is a classic and is highly recommended by our landscaping team. It can be found at any garden center, often dyed different colors like brown, black, or red. Shredded mulch comes in smaller pieces than other types, helping it break down quickly. But you know what that means—it’ll be time to replace it sooner. 

Hardwood mulch is a byproduct of the lumber industry. It’s made from recycled and shredded hardwoods from things like pallets, tree branches, and other wood projects.

• Appearance: Classic mulch look
• Replacement: Every year
• Where to use it: Shrubs, trees, flower beds, and hills (because it won’t get swept away)
• Cost: Widely available and inexpensive (dyed mulch is more expensive)

Type 2: Bark

Bark mulch is very similar to hardwood, but with one main difference—it’s only made of tree bark, not other woods, and it typically breaks down more slowly. Bark mulch can be shredded or cut into nuggets and can be made of different species of wood. The two most common types of bark mulch are hardwood and pine trees. 

Pine bark mulch has a dark color. However, the nuggets can easily get washed away in the rain, so be mindful not to place them on hills. At Stauffers of Kissel Hill, we offer several mulch options that are 100% hardwood bark, including our premium mulch and our black bark mulch.

• Appearance: Classic mulch look
• Replacement: Every 1–2 years
• Where to use it: Shrubs, trees, and flower beds
• Cost: Bark mulch tends to be more expensive

Types of Mulch: Inorganic

Inorganic mulches are made of non-living materials, which means they do not decompose or enrich your soil. On the bright side, they don’t have to be replaced nearly as often. Below is the most popular type of inorganic mulch that we recommend. 

Type 1: Stones

Stones are great at reducing weeds and are extremely pleasing to look at. They come in a variety of styles, including gravel, river rock,  and marble chips. Plus, they help prevent erosion and don’t blow away during a storm. 

Sometimes, stones can reflect heat upwards, so don’t use them with plants that are sensitive to heat or that love the shade. Like all inorganic mulch, stones don’t add any nutrients to the soil. That’s why we recommend adding some fertilizer to your beds to give your plants a boost. 

• Appearance: Clean look with a variety of styles 
• Replacement: Can last for 5+ years
• Where to use it: For drought-tolerant plants, on slopes, or around pathways 
• Cost: Expensive but readily available

How Do I Pick the Best Mulch Color?

Picking mulch color is about personal preference and aesthetics. Here’s an overview of the most common colors: 

• Black Mulch: As a darker color, it adds greater contrast against your plants. 
• Brown Mulch: This color blends very well into the landscape, letting your plants’ natural colors shine. And at first glance, it looks very similar to soil! 
• Red Mulch: This is a more unexpected option that can complement the green of your lawn and act as a statement item in your landscaping. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Mulching

Buy Mulch At Your Local Stauffers

Ready to get mulching? Find dozens of mulch options at your nearest Stauffers of Kissel Hill Home and Garden Center.

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