Cedar mulch is your winner over pine needle mulch for a characteristic that is essential: pest insects are repelled by it. Cedar also surpasses pine needles for fire security. Wood mulch — but not wood chips — resists combustion, while rapid fire burst is fueled by needles, according to a joint study from the University of California Cooperative Extension and University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Pine demands that are dead and cedar chips are organic mulches that enhance soil, insulate against heat and cold, decrease soil moisture evaporation and deter weeds.
Cedar Mulch Features
Cedar mulch deters termites and cockroaches, making it a good choice to use near the house, garage and outbuildings. Some bees repel and shortens their lives. Researchers from North Carolina State University reported in the Journal of Economic Entomology the ants that were further had to roam across cedar mulch to achieve food, the shorter their lifestyles. Wood chip mulch doesn’t affect the nitrogen levels of soil, notes an article in the summer 2007 issue of this magazine, Master Gardener. The magazine claims that cedar doesn’t include chemicals some plants produce which are harmful to plants, allelopathic compounds.
Pine Needle Mulch Features
Pine needle mulch known as pine straw, doesn’t repel insects. Dead pine needles gives a comfortable environment that is nesting to ants. Avoid using needles near plants prone to being infested with aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies and soft scale insects. Ants eat the honeydew those plant-harming insects are excreted and protect by these pests from predators. Keep needle mulch away from the house to cut down on the risk of rodents coming indoors. In areas of the yard where ants are not a issue, dead pine needles mulch well as perform.
Pine Needle Uses
The non invasive of pine needle mulch leaves it a good choice for areas populated by voles. Keep the depth of pine needles at 1 inch till the voles are under control. A deep layer of compost creates an environment because it allows them to hide from predators. For fire safety, maintain dead pine needles from any source of possible ignition, such as barbecues, fire pits, tiki torches and smoking areas and buildings. Pine needles split down nicely in compost piles or bins.
Mulch Safety
Composting cedar mulch makes it resistant to catching fire. Pine needles and shredded red cedar had the fastest rate of fire spread and had the second and third greatest flames at a study of eight mulches at a joint study. Wood chips had the flame height and rate of fire spread. Garden facilities sell cedar mulch that is composted. Whichever mulch you use, apply it carefully so it is not in touch with the trunks of trees and shrubs or plant stems. It can cause trunk or stem rust, which might pose disease or kill the plant.