Is Hardwood Bark Toxic

Recently however i received an e mail from a local landscaper that reported severe damage to annuals and perennials in a landscape bed immediately after applying hardwood mulch.

Is hardwood bark toxic.

Here in ohio the most popular type of mulch that people use is shredded hardwood bark mulch which is a by product of the timber industry. Hardwood bark is aged 9 12 months from species such as oak hickory ash maple and beech to create this product. Is colored mulch toxic. Properly composted organic material has a near neutral ph of 6 0 to 7 2 in general hardwood chip mulch is more of a problem than pine bark mulch.

Seven bark is a common shrub or bush in the same genus as the hydrangea but it is a wild variety that originates from the eastern united states. Another way is to purchase organic bagged mulch. I have amassed over 500 wood species on a single poster arranged into eight major geographic regions with each wood sorted and ranked according to its janka hardness. In the wild it is most often seen growing in large groups and can reach up to 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide.

Natural mulch has no added color. Some types of landscape bark may be toxic if used around young plants. Pine cedar and hemlock mulches are good alternatives to cocoa bean mulch if you have pets however keep in mind that dogs can choke on mulch and must still be supervised. The poster worldwide woods ranked by hardness should be required reading for anyone enrolled in the school of wood nerdery.

And the mulch actually becomes toxic. The mulch may become laden with toxic byproducts such as methanol acetic acid ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gas. When this occurs the mulch develops an over bearing odor that will take your breath. This season i used organic mechanics organic hardwood bark mulch with great results.

It is a mix of hardwood bark mulch and compost and is 100 organic so it helps with beneficial biology in your garden areas. The mulch may also become very acidic with a ph in the range of 1 8 to 3 6. Types of mulch safe for pets. This organic mulch looks great in your garden and is safe for kids and pets.

Some cheap dyes however can be dyed with harmful or toxic chemicals. This is especially true with pine needle mulch as the pine needles can actually puncture the stomach lining if ingested. Landscape bark and hardwood chips are often used around flowerbeds trees and shrubs as a mulch material. I sometimes encounter customers who ask is colored mulch toxic most colored mulches are dyed with harmless dyes like iron oxide based dyes for red or carbon based dyes for black and dark brown.