Are you looking for a way to breed gardens without stress? Use cedar mulch.
It is one of the best mulches that works against pests and increases soil moisture. It also adds nutrients to the soil and moderates its temperature.
Cedar is suitable for vegetable gardens; it is fertile with organic materials. Your vegetable garden develops rapidly as the shreds decompose. Pests are repelled and good beds are formed.
Mulching the right way brings multiple benefits. Hence, there’s a need to apply measures to prevent your garden from losing nutrients and vegetation from dying.
Cedar Mulch Pros and Cons
Cedar mulch is a recommended mulch that’s great for a vegetable garden. Just like other types of mulches, it has some disadvantages that are worth putting into consideration. Read on to learn the pros and cons of this mulch.
Pros of Cedar Mulch
Organic mulches, in general, help to improve the growth of plants. Cedar bark lasts longer than inorganic mulches and enriches both the plant and soil. Contained below are some of its benefits.
- Adds Nutrients to the Soil
As the shred decomposes, nutrients and organic matter increase. This keeps the soil moist and regulates its temperature.
- Water Retention
A vegetable garden needs all the water it can get. Using cedar mulch will prevent fluids from evaporating.
- It Prevents Pests
This mulch is known to repel weeds and pests. It contains chemicals that repel moth, beetles, and cockroaches. It also contains Thujaplicin, a chemical compound found in cedar trees that enhances the growth of plants.
Related: Best Mulch for Raised Vegetable Bed Garden
Cons of Cedar Mulch
Cedar mulch is a good fit for most plants but it also comes with some disadvantages. The following are some of its cons.
- Destroys the Nutrients of Moist Soil
When the soil is boggy and drains fluid poorly, using cedar mulch may destroy its nutrients. Knowing fully well that the barks increase soil moisture and adding them carelessly is nothing but a wrong move.
- Not Good for Acidic Soil
Cedar mulch increases the acidic level of the soil. This makes it unsuitable for use on soil with a high acidic.
- Consumes Nitrogen
Using cedar shreds takes away nitrogen in the soil. Soil with nitrogen stored in the upper layer is vulnerable. Only those with the nitrogen levels hoarded below are beneficial.
Here are some other disadvantages:
- It is one of the most expensive types of mulching
- The smell may be off to people with sensory organs
Best Cedar Mulch for Vegetable Garden
1. Amish Aromatic Cedar Wood Shavings
Amish Aromatic Cedar Wood Shavings is an excellent fit for your vegetable garden. The woodchucks provide nothing less than four pounds of shavings, and it is pure and natural with no chemicals or conservative.
It comes in a box and you need to be careful when opening the package as the pieces are loose. Amish wood shavings help to increase the moisture and nutrients of the soil. The pleasant odor makes it more lovely. Some other useful areas where you can place them include cathouses, birdhouses, and chicken coops.
Pros
- Well packed in a large box with a friendly environment
- Woodchucks are aromatic when in use
Cons
- Directly packed in a box without warning measures
Related: Here’s the Best Mulch for Perennials
2. Natural Cedar Shavings
Natural Cedar Shavings repel harmful substances on your beds. They make pests and weeds become powerless.
The long-lasting shavings are also great for use on animal beddings. Shavings decompose to improve the performance of a bed. They have a pleasant cedar smell that makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. They’re purely natural and suggested for bed linens.
Natural cedar is a great choice for gardening, crafting, freshening the air, and so on. With this product, pests can’t grow or germinate on your vegetation.
Pros
- It is suitable for air freshening and crafting
- It has a subtle scent
- It is perfectly packed in a zipped bag
Cons
- It has a small containing space
- The pieces smell good but come with a short-lived odor
3. Ameriscape Cedar Mulch
Ameriscape Cedar Mulch, unlike others, contributes wholly to a plant and its surroundings. The Canadian product is colorful and retains its natural look even after doing its work. It has 100% of woods and bark. That is to say, the pieces are natural without any filter. It is a good choice for mulching freely as it beautifies the environment.
Not to forget that cedar mulch is rich with organic materials. While beautifying the area, it develops the garden rapidly. Rots and insects are harmless to its woodchucks. The mulch is helpful in hot conditions.
Pros
- Pure chips
- It looks natural even when dry
- The covering is attractive
- It releases a subtle scent
- It resists insects and rots
Cons
- Insufficient pieces
4. Vundahboah Amish Goods Cedar Wood Mulch
Vundahboah Amish Goods Cedar Wood Mulch is a good option for gardening, pets’ bedding, outdoor landscaping, and owl boxes. It is natural and unique. This means that the shreds exist just as they were found. No extras added and no supplements deducted.
To further explain, these cedar chips have no chemicals added to it. The organic materials present are sufficient enough to sustain a plant’s nutrient.
When it comes to deliveries, Vundahboah Amish Goods Cedar Wood Mulch comes in different sizes. The first weighs 12 Ib (12 oz bags), the second weighs 1 lb (4 oz bags), and the third is packaged in two 4 oz bags, making a total of 8 oz.
Pros
- Pleasant Odour
- 100% natural
- No chemicals, sprays, or coatings added
- Organic cedar pieces
Cons
- There are delivery cases where the bags get loose on transit
Related: Top Places to Get Wood Chips for Gardens
Cedar Mulch Vs Other Mulches
How you want your garden to look depends on the mulching type to use. Mulches are beneficial when applied to soils. However, they vary and act differently even though they serve similar purposes. Explained further is a comparison of cedar mulch with other types of mulches.
Cedar Vs Pine Mulch
Cedar mulch is one of the best, but it is costly. The mulch efficiently repels insects and rots. It is also used for landscaping to reduce erosion. While enriching your garden, the woodchucks also fight against these organisms.
Unlike its peers, it allows limited decomposition. This means that the bark breaks down gradually to nourish the soil.
Barks from pine trees make up the pine mulch. They are less expensive compared to cedar pieces and differ in many areas. Pine mulch has a more colorful and elegant appearance than cedar barks. The organic nutrients present in it decomposes quickly and nourishes the soil.
Cons of Cedar Mulch
Cedar mulch has a problem with the nitrogen level of the soil. It is also not a good fit for moist soil, wetlands, and high acidic soil.
Cons of Pine Mulch
Pine barks do their work when applied but dwindle right away. It comes in various sizes – large nuggets and small shreds. It is no good if you work on a soil with high acidic level.
The type of mulch to apply to a garden depends on what you want to achieve. Both types are good enough to accomplish a healthy garden in specific scenarios. They decompose, take the form of the soil, and make the land fertile. These mulches have the same responsibility. Cedar barks cost more and pine pieces decompose quickly.
Related: Top 10 Mulch for Wet Areas
Cedar Vs Hardwood Mulch
Wood is excellent for mulches and ideal for keeping weeds at bay. Even the colored pieces are mixed with vegetable dye. Hardwood mulches are shreds gotten from oak and maple trees. The morsels are finely cut and decay faster than cedar mulch. The soil gets enriched once they start deteriorating.
Recycled lumber is perfect for mulching. It decomposes readily and adds nutrients to the soil. When thinking of a mulch to use, you must consider how fast you want the pieces to decay. This will help you to use the right chips.
Cedar barks are extremely good for nourishing a garden. They decay quickly and release a pleasant scent. Shreds of this kind improve the growth of trees. These pieces have a brown-gold color, and they release oil that works against insects and pests.
Cons of Cedar Mulch
Cedar oil may drive away beneficial pests. Also, the color fades at some point, and shreds become gray.
It is not suitable for use on soils with a low nitrogen level. But hardwood mulch is.
Cons of Hardwood Mulch
If you decide to use hardwood mulch, ensure that you take note of the pH level of the soil. The shreds are alkalines, and they can change the state of a pH level – more reason why managing the quantity used is a must. Preferably, add 3 Ibs of sulfur per cubic yard or 100 square feet of the bed.
Unlike hardwoods, cedar mulch keeps the temperature cool and prevents the root from overheating. Remember that the color fades quickly and shreds take time to decompose. Hence, you have to wait for this moment before plowing.
Cedar Vs Cypress Mulch
Cedar barks decompose uniquely. They decay slowly, release all necessary nourishments, and produce oil that pests detest. If you want to retain soil moisture, this is the right choice. Have in mind that the brown-gold color disappears shortly after applying them.
You don’t need to replace cypress shreds often because they retain their color and break down gradually. These mulches release a natural smell that acts as a weed barrier since you place them in a 3-inch layer. The oil released drives away pests and helps to control erosion. You can use these shreds if you have a sloped garden.
Cons of Cedar Mulch
There’s no room for pests and insects when cedar barks are in use as they are pest-free. This also means that getting beneficial pests will be difficult. Cedar pieces lose their quality quickly, so you need to replace them often. They are more prone to fire-risk areas than cypress mulches. Avoid using this covering in flammable surroundings, especially near your house or outdoors.
Cons of Cypress Mulch
Mulch of this kind comes from cypress trees. These trees take around 100 years to mature. Many of them in America’s cypress forests are cut down and used without reforesting. Manufacturers, however, have no other choice than to use immature cypress trees with no rot on insect resistance.
Cypress has a more organic mixture of carbon and nitrogen. Hence, this can cause a fire outbreak. If you work in a high-risk area, follow careful procedures to avoid disaster.
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