Your Complete Guide to Mulch: Types, Benefits, and How To Choose the Right One
Mulch is more than just a finishing touch for your garden beds. Whether you're refreshing your landscaping or building a garden from scratch, choosing the right mulch is key to long-term garden performance.
In this guide, you'll learn about the different types of mulch available, their unique benefits, and how to choose the right one for your garden.
At Gauld Nurseries, we believe mulch is a powerful tool for improving plant health, preserving moisture, and boosting curb appeal. Contact us today so we can help your garden thrive!
1. Why Mulch Matters
Mulch does more than just sit on top of your soil—it actively improves your garden’s health and appearance in several important ways.
It retains moisture by slowing evaporation, helping your plants stay hydrated longer and reducing the need for frequent watering. Mulch also regulates soil temperature, keeping it cooler during the summer and insulating it during cold snaps—offering consistent protection for delicate roots.
By suppressing weeds, mulch forms a barrier that blocks sunlight, preventing weed seeds from sprouting and competing with your plants for nutrients. Over time, organic mulch adds nutrients as it breaks down, enriching the soil with valuable organic matter and feeding beneficial microbes.
Mulch also improves soil structure by encouraging earthworm activity and natural aeration, which promotes stronger, healthier root systems. And of course, it enhances curb appeal with a clean, uniform look that brings polish and definition to your landscape.
A fresh layer of mulch is one of the simplest ways to refresh your garden—giving it a tidy, well-cared-for appearance while supporting long-term plant growth.
A fresh layer of mulch can instantly elevate your landscape, creating a clean and cohesive look while giving your plants the protection they need to thrive.
2. Natural Mulch
Natural mulch is made from untreated wood materials like shredded bark and hardwood chips. It’s a classic choice that combines natural beauty with practical, long-term benefits for your garden.
As it gradually breaks down, natural mulch enriches the soil, boosting fertility and supporting healthy microbial activity. It also offers excellent moisture retention, helping to reduce watering needs and keep plants thriving through dry spells.
With its earthy, rustic appearance, natural mulch blends seamlessly into most landscape styles, from cottage gardens to woodland-inspired designs.
Natural mulch is ideal for gardeners who value sustainability and want a mulch that will integrate into their soil organically over time.
Best for: Garden beds, flower borders, and areas beneath trees and shrubs—anywhere you want to improve soil health while maintaining a natural, understated look.
3. Gauld’s Dyed Mulch
For a bold and uniform look, dyed mulch offers a bold, uniform appearance that adds dramatic contrast and visual interest to your landscape.
Made from recycled wood and coloured with non-toxic, environmentally safe dyes, it's a great option when aesthetics are just as important as function.
Available in vibrant shades like red, black, and dark brown, dyed mulch provides long-lasting colour while also delivering excellent weed suppression and moisture retention.
When installed correctly, it holds its colour throughout the season, keeping your landscape looking fresh and well-maintained.
Best for: High-visibility areas like front yards, walkways, and commercial spaces—anywhere you want to maximize curb appeal.
4. Cedar Mulch
Cedar mulch combines practical performance with natural beauty—and that unmistakable, fresh fragrance. Made from cedar bark and wood, this mulch is naturally resistant to decay, making it one of the longest-lasting organic options available.
In addition to its durability, cedar mulch helps repel common garden pests like ants, moths, and termites, offering a subtle layer of protection for your plants and outdoor spaces. It also emits a pleasant, woodsy aroma that enhances the sensory experience of your garden.
Best for: Decorative beds, flower gardens, and areas near patios, porches, or seating areas—places where both appearance and aroma matter.
Cedar mulch is ideal for gardeners who want a mulch that performs well, looks great, and smells even better—perfect for high-traffic or high-visibility spaces.
5. Bark Mulch
Bark mulch is a dependable, all-purpose option made from shredded pine, hemlock, or hardwood bark.
It’s known for its natural look and long-lasting performance, making it a favourite among both casual gardeners and landscaping professionals.
Bark mulch does an excellent job at regulating soil temperature, keeping plant roots insulated from extreme heat or cold. Its coarse texture helps slow erosion, especially on sloped garden beds or exposed areas.
As it breaks down over time, bark mulch contributes to improved soil structure without needing to be replaced as often as finer mulches.
Best for: Trees, shrubs, perennial beds, and sloped landscapes where durability and function are key.
If you're looking for a mulch that offers solid protection, moisture retention, and visual consistency—bark mulch delivers on all fronts.
6. How Gauld’s Can Help You Choose the Right Mulch
Not all mulch is created equal, and the best choice depends on your garden’s layout, plant types, and aesthetic goals. Here are several key factors to consider when selecting the ideal mulch:
Location Matters: Use cedar or dyed mulch in high-visibility areas where appearance and scent make an impact, like front garden beds, patios, or walkways. Their vibrant colours and aromatic properties can create strong curb appeal. For less visible spaces or where soil health is the priority, natural mulch or bark mulch offers excellent functionality and long-term benefits.
Plant Type: Consider what you're planting. Delicate annuals and shallow-rooted flowers benefit from lighter, fine-textured mulch that won't overwhelm small stems. On the other hand, trees, shrubs, and perennials with deeper roots prefer heavier, coarse-textured mulch like bark, which stays in place and better insulates roots.
Colour Coordination: Match mulch tones to your home’s exterior or your plant palette for a harmonious look. Black mulch adds dramatic contrast to vibrant flowers, while brown or red mulch pairs beautifully with natural stone and earthy tones. Neutral, natural wood tones blend effortlessly into woodland or rustic settings.
Drainage & Soil Health: If your garden has poor drainage or heavy clay soil, opt for mulch types like shredded bark or hardwood that break down slowly and help improve soil texture. In wetter areas, avoid fine mulch that may compact and prevent airflow to plant roots.
Maintenance Preferences: Dyed mulch retains colour longer but may require a refresh each season for maximum vibrancy. Natural and bark mulches decompose more noticeably, enriching your soil but requiring periodic top-ups to maintain coverage.
Still unsure? Visit Gauld Nurseries to speak with our knowledgeable team—we'll help you match the perfect mulch to your landscape goals and growing conditions.
Visit Us or Schedule Your Mulch Delivery Today
Stop by our garden centre to explore our mulch selection in person, or contact our team to schedule a delivery straight to your home.
Ready to take your landscape to the next level? Visit our mulch page to learn more and start your order.
Let Gauld Nurseries help your garden grow healthier, greener, and more beautiful with mulch that works.
“The reason I keep going back is for the quality. A lot of their stock is planted directly into the ground so the root balls are bigger, the trees just look healthier . We recently purchased a 5ft Emerald Cedar. The tree was at least 10” wider, the growth much denser and it was planted in a pot almost twice the size of what some competitors were selling for the same tree. Great selection of unique trees and shrubs. Love the outdoor location. Would highly recommend.”
