What Is Cedar Mulch?

Mulching plays a major role in gardening and landscaping. While various types of mulches help hold in soil moisture, the ingredients in mulches can contain different substances. Cedar mulch is one type of vegetative mulch. This common material is available from a variety of sources including plant nurseries and gardening centers.

Cedar mulch consists of shredded bark and wood fibers from cedar trees. Like many other types of mulches, cedar mulch fulfills a number of purposes in the garden and landscape. It helps maintain an even soil temperature, keeping the soil cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The mulch helps reduce the growth of weeds, prevent the loss of water from evaporation and prevent soil compaction.

Cedar mulch is a type of organic mulch, while gravel, black plastic and landscape fabric are types of inorganic mulches. Organic mulches include raked leaves, old grass clippings, straw and commercially processed tree products, such as cedar. As an organic variety of mulch, cedar tends to decompose over time. As the mulch decomposes, it creates a looser, richer soil, especially after tilling it under.

Unlike other types of organic mulch, cedar wood is a popular substance for repelling moths and reducing mold and mildew inside closets and other enclosed spaces. Despite these properties, cedar mulch is gentle enough to use as mulch over the roots of growing plants. This type of hardwood mulch decomposes much slower than other types of organic mulch, making it require replacement less frequently than grass clippings and decaying leaves. This mulch increases the porosity of soil, providing a looser environment for root growth. Cedar mulch adds an attractive, natural ingredient around flower beds and ornamental plantings. The scent adds a pleasant aroma to a landscape, especially after a rain.

According to the University of Missouri, some evidence shows that cedar heartwood may inhibit the germination of seeds. This can be a concern when using cedar in soil mediums used to start seedlings. However, as a mulching ingredient, there is no evidence that cedar mulch is harmful to growing plants. Because the decaying cedar can cause a slight increase in soil acidity over time, it is important to consider the pH requirements of the plants grown in nearby soil.