Chipped Hardwood Bark Mulch

Chipped hardwood bark mulch, which is made from grounded up or
chipped trees, can often be purchased at a low cost or even given
30
30
away for free at township landfills. Getting your chipped hardwood
bark mulch this way, however, does put you at risk of bringing home
mulch made from diseased trees. Therefore, it is best to compost
this mulch for a year before you apply it to your garden.
You can also purchase chipped hardwood bark from most garden
centers. It makes for a great mulch because it is fibrous and has the
ability to interlock with other pieces. This helps prevent the mulch
from getting washed away by a hard rainfall. It is also heavy enough
to help your garden retain its moisture during dry summer months,
while still being light and airy enough to allow water and air to
permeate it.
Chipped hardwood bark mulch also has natural anti-insect and antifungal
properties that are beneficial to your garden. It also provides
nutrients to the ground as it decomposes and does not take away
any nitrogen from the ground as it decomposes as some other forms
of organic mulch can.