Any gardener knows the value of mulch in a garden. Mulch helps retain valuable moisture in the soil and prevents weed growth, among other benefits. New gardeners might be amazed at the variety of mulch types available, and in my next post, I’ll take a look at some of the best options for a Florida-Friendly garden.
First, though, I want to bring home the importance of avoiding cypress mulch in all circumstances. Sure, it’s cheap ($1.77 a bag at Home Depot), but the overall cost to Florida ecosystems is incredibly high.
Cypress trees are Florida wetlands icons. Lettuce Lake Park in Temple Terrace has one along its boardwalk trail that’s estimated to be 800 to 1000 years old. Along the coast, cypress trees provide natural storm and flood protection, and wherever they grow, they help clean groundwater and host a multitude of wildlife.
Cypress trees are extremely slow-growing, and it takes many years for a tree to reach harvest age. Once a cypress forest is clear-cut, the land is often overtaken by invasive species before the cypress trees can re-establish themselves. This is simply not a tree that can be sustainably harvested.
Cypress mulch is not a by-product of the lumber industry, although it started out that way. Now, almost half of the cypress that’s harvested in Florida is used expressly for mulch.
The University of Florida IFAS Extension notes: “Cypress mulch appears to have a high water-holding capacity that may reduce the amount of water reaching the plant root zone…When dry, cypress mulch repels water, making it difficult to wet, particularly if it is on a mound or slope.”
Florida-Friendly gardeners can take some important steps when it comes to cypress mulch:
Sometimes the actions we don’t take are just as important as the actions we do. Say no to cypress mulch, and look for Florida-Friendly alternatives instead.
Jo-Anne
1 year ago
I am so glad you posted this. Most people don’t think about the impact of harvesting cypress for ordinary mulch. Cypress is one of the few woods that can withstand Florida’s harsh environment and so will continue to be used in exterior construction until a reasonable and compatible alternative is found. However, destroying these trees purely for mulch when other (better) alternatives are available is poor practice and limits the availability of the wood for the times when it’s use is appropriate (restoration). We are big fans of pine straw for plant beds.
sharon
1 year ago
I admit, I have been a fan of cypress mulch. I do not like pine bark and that leaves few alternatives. I wish you would have given more Florida Friendly alternatives.
sharon
1 year ago
I admit that I have been a fan of cypress mulch in the past. I know better now but have trouble good alternatives. I do not like pine bark not pine straw. Eucalyptus is good but not easy to find.
Jeffrey
1 year ago
Sharon: Alternative can be doing on the Save Our Cypress website or you can visit <a href=”http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/may/17/tr-mulchs-dirty-little-secret”http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/may/17/tr-mulchs-dirty-little-secret/
Jeffrey
Internet Organizer
Save Our Cypress Coalition
GKR
1 year ago
Bales of pine straw can be purchased in Tampa at Cypress Creek Landscape Supply, 12734 N Florida Av, 813-933-7944.
Jill
1 year ago
Sharon – As I noted in my post, I’ll be detailing Florida Friendly mulch alternatives in my next post. Look for it on Saturday, May 23. Thanks for reading Sticks of Fire!
Dr_Zoidberg
1 year ago
Guess the problem isn’t as critical as it was made out to be. Poor form. Perhaps you’re going for a teaser effect, but it would have been better execution to provide at least some resources or a short list of alternatives with the post. Then, you could detail them with pros and cons etc.. in the subsequent post. Your comment above comes across as arrogant and is a real turn-off.
Jeffrey
1 year ago
Jill,
You response to Sharon was neither arrogant nor a turn-off.
tommy
1 year ago
Dr_Zoidberg, your anonymous comment is in poor form. Perhaps you’re going for the internet idiot effect?
dcdave
1 year ago
gotta say, i was really looking for the alternatives. That would’ve been the meat of the post, I got that using cypress mulch was bad after the first 3 paragraphs.
Joe Litton
1 year ago
ALTERNATIVE: Easy to find at Lowe’s is Eucalyptus. We have *always* found eucalyptus mulch available at any Lowes we’ve got to (Brandon, Valrico, Plant City). Advantage is it won’t blow or float away, is rumored to help manage pests (can’t say for sure if that’s true), and certainly looks nice.
Pine straw, as mentioned in comment #5 is also Florida Friendly.
GKR
1 year ago
C’mon folks, cut Jill some slack, does she need to deliver the cypress mulch alternative to your house as well?
Dr_Zoidberg
1 year ago
Wow tom, you sure showed me. Guess constructive criticism isn’t welcome here. As for internet idiots, I’ll bow to your expertise on the subject. Thanks for being there bro.
Janice Davis
1 year ago
Cypress is a renewable resource. Look it up on the internet. Like Deer and Turkey, the best way to preserve a species is to use it. Fortunately for the Cypress, it is a much loved tree and will continue to be with us in the millions of acres of wetlands in this country.
If you want to really make a differnce, buy some wetland and grow a Cypress Dome. I’ve heard swampland can be cheap.
Jeffrey from saveourcypress.org
1 year ago
Janice:
Did you look up Cypress Mulch up on the internet? Did you read any white papers? Did you read the Science Working Group Report on the cypress swamps and regeneration?
Cypress is not renewable, most certainly not at the rate at which it is being clear cut for mulch and that is the whole point of our campaign. The hydrology has completely changed and in general,n o longer support regeneration or even replanting.
Wetlands are disappearing, the whole Louisiana coastline is vanishing and continued sprawl country wide is resulting in the clearing and filling in of wetlands.
This is a simple choice to make a big difference. I am not asking you or others to buy your own swamp, just asking you to change the garden mulch that you are using.