You have many options when it comes to choices of mulch. We recommend using pine needles. However, there are many good types of mulch that exist that will help your yard become everything you want it to be.

Leaves
This can be useful if you have a deciduous tree in your yard that produces lots of leaves during the fall and winter. It is a great way to keep your yard clean, and recycle it to make it look even better. It is best to take the fallen leaves and cut them up with a mowing with a bag attachment making it easy to spread the now mulch wherever you need. The leaves act as a winter coverage to shield plants from the cold.

Peat Moss

From the types of mulch available, peat moss or sphagnum peat is a good option due to its longevity and convenience. It lowers the Ph level of the soil surface, and is thus useful for acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons and blueberries.

Bark Chips

The use of bark chips has many positive sides to it. One, it will last between one to three years. The larger the chips the longer it will last, but the smaller the chips the easier it is to spread around and often looks nicer. This form of mulch is popularly used around trees, shrubs or in perennial gardens. It is important to remember to keep the chips a couple inches away from the trunk of the tree or bush.

Straw Mulch

Straw can be a great mulch for winter covering. It is easy to apply and works great. It is best used in vegetable gardens but can be used anywhere mulch is needed.
It is important to note that straw may often contain weed seeds that will create work for you later on, but just might be worth it with the benefits outweighing the negative parts.

Like previously mentioned, we recommend the use of pine needle mulch. And here is a summary of the Environmental Benefits of Pine Needle Mulch:

* Insulates tender roots from temperature extremes, keeping the soil warm during cold spells and cool during warm spells.
* Conserves soil moisture by reducing water evaporation rates and moisture loss.
* Encourages water infiltration into the soil and reduces runoff.
* Eliminates erosion caused by wind and rain.
* Protects against soil compaction by reducing the rain impact directly on the surface.
* Promotes favorable soil tilth for healthy root growth.
* Does not require removal. To revitalize the color, simply add a layer of fresh straw on top of the old straw.