WASHINGTON – As the weather warms up, people might be looking for ways to spruce up their yards.
But those who are thinking about loading up on wood mulch should think again. Wood mulch can start as dead trees, construction debris and shipping pallets.
WTOP Garden Editor Mike McGrath says wood mulch invites termites, ants and rodents, and should be avoided.
“All these plants, all these trees that have wood mulch wrapped around their base, they’re going to live a very short, unhappy and brutal life,” says McGrath.
He suggests compost mulch as a better alternative, because it feeds plants with each rainfall and is just as effective at preventing weeds. If the mulch is deeper than two inches, it will also keep water out.