However, the type of landscape mulch that you ultimately choose to use depends on your personal needs.

Organic Mulch

• Pine Bark: Pine Bark is an extremely popular choice in many flower beds. It is extremely effective at controlling weeds and retaining moisture.
• Hardwood Mulch: You can get hardwood in two different types of mulch. The first is wood chips and the second is in a shredded form.  Both types have advantages, but most people feel that the shredded option is easier to work with and more attractive. Shredded hardwood will also decompose more slowly than wood chips.
• Hay or Straw: First, there is a difference between hay and straw and hay should never be used as a mulch in your yard as the hay itself contains weeds.  Straw can be used effectively, but it’s not really very attractive and it decomposes very rapidly.  It is, however, a good choice to cover new lawn area while you wait for your grass to come in.
• Pine Needles: This type of landscape mulch is actually quite attractive depending on the type of flower beds that you have. It allows water to penetrate very easily and is effective at retaining moisture. It’s also a wonderful weed barrier.  Think about walking through a forest that’s full of pine needles – how many weeds do you see?  For a different look, pine needles are a great choice.
• Ground Cover: Okay, I know that ground cover isn’t exactly mulch, but I think it’s worth mentioning here. Many ground covers can be used effectively in place of mulch. It can be an effective form of weed control and will cover your soil – effectively protecting the root area of the plants and retaining moisture.

Inorganic Mulch

• Gravel, Stone, or Pebbles: By far the most popular of all inorganic mulches avaiable, these are good for places where your plants are permanent. Because rocks don’t decompose, it can be a real hassle when you want to replant in an area that’s already covered in rocks or pebbles.  You only need about an inch of any of these substances to assist with weed control.
• Ground Rubber Tire Mulch: A fairly new option on the market, it is an interesting way to deal with tires. It won’t break down and never needs to be replaced.  That said, since the rubber is typically dark colored (as in, BLACK!), it is going to generate additional heat in your garden, just like a asphalt driveway would.
• Landscape Cloth: Not really attractive at all, landscape cloth is usually laid as a weed barrier and then covered with another form of mulch for aesthetics. Landscape cloth is preferable to using garbage bags as it allows air to travel through it.
• Trash Bags: Again, these are usually used for weed control and not as a decorative measure. Never use clear plastic bags – they are not effective at stopping weeds.  You can use black trash bags, but as mentioned above, using landscape cloth is a better choice these types of covers “breath.”

While not a comprehensive list of the types of mulch that are available, this should help to get you on the right path. What you should do now is head out to your local garden store. Look around at the options available in your area to see what appeals to you.

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It’s my favorite time of year again, that time of year when I get to get my garden ready for the the summer season. A few days ago I talked about drip irrigation, a great way to save money and water out in the garden.

Whether or not you are using a drip irrigation system, you’ll want to use mulch in all of your flower beds. There’s lots of reasons to do this, all of which are good.

~ First, landscape mulch is attractive. A nicely mulched flower bed looks much nicer than plain dirt.

~ It’s cost-effective. In Hawaii, there are places where I can get it free as long as I pick it up and haul it. I would suspect that there are similar places throughout the country. Even if you end up purchasing mulch, it’s still relatively cheap when compared with the benefits that you’ll receive from using it.

~ Landscape mulch assists with water consumption. The mulch holds moisture in the landscape and this is especially true when you are using a drip irrigation system. Keeping the water in the landscape means less water used and lower water bills.

~ Mulch is a weed-barrier. It stops weeds from getting the sunlight that they need to grow which results in less weeds overall. Every gardener knows that’s a good thing!

~ Landscape mulch helps to keep your soil cool in the summer and warm in the winter, helping to keep your soil temperature more even.

~ Organic mulches eventually decompose and become topsoil with nutrients. This process improves the quality of the soil.

~ Plants that are grown in mulch will have better root structures. This is partly because the hot sun never reaches the root area of the plant. The use of landscape mulch also allows for more roots.

~ It’s easy to install and maintain. Once it’s been initially installed, you only need to top it off as it starts to decompose.

If you haven’t yet used landscape mulch in your garden, this summer is the time to start. You’ll enjoy a much more attractive garden, healthier plants, and you’ll be required to water less often and to use less water.

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Spring is here and it’s time to start thinking about your garden. There’s nothing that makes me happier than getting my garden spruced up each spring and I’m always on the lookout for new plants and products to add to what I already have.

I’m also obviously interested in being as eco friendly as I can, so I’m constantly trying to use green products in and around my home. Solar garden lights are one way that I green my garden while also adding beauty and functionality.

As I started my search for new products this year, I was on the lookout for some new high-quality solar garden lights to use outside. I came across these Moonrays 91225 Verona Style Solar Powered Plastic Path Light, Black, 10 Pack
that I am extremely pleased with. Besides wanting green products, I also want to find good deals and I want high quality products. These lights meet all of my criteria and they work great.

If you haven’t yet used any sort of solar light in your yard or garden, you are missing out on great ambiance and a potential way to save some cash on your electric bill. Quite simply, they collect energy during the day, with small solar collectors on the top of the light and then light up after dark. The ones that I purchased, shown above, utilize LED lighting which means that they stay lit longer each night. They are also extremely tolerant of water and can be placed without worrying about rain or irrigation.

I use mine all over the place – I always have them on either side of the path leading to my front door so that the walk to the door is illuminated after dark. I also use them throughout my flower beds to give them some light after the sun goes down.

The type of solar garden lights that you choose is going to be based mostly on your personal taste and style. No matter what style appeals to you, there are a few things that you should look for in your purchase of any solar lighting product.

~ Look for LED lighting. LED light bulbs last the longest, so you’re lights will stay lit longer each night.
~ Look for lighting that is weatherproof so you don’t need to be concerned about rain or irrigation getting on them.
~ Check for easy to access batteries. The batteries are what will hold the charge that is being collected by the solar panel from the sun. They will need to be replaced every once in awhile, so you want to be able to access them easily.
~ Make sure that whatever lights you choose come with quality ground spikes so that you can easily place the solar lighting in your garden.

Amazon has a great selection of these solar lights. Be sure to check them out if you’re looking for ways to spruce up your garden this spring. Here is a highly rated one; Moonrays 91225 Verona Style Solar Powered Plastic Path Light, Black, 10 Pack

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