5 Best Cedar Mulch For Your Garden in 2024

Name: 5 Best Cedar Mulch For Your Garden in 2024
Item: 5 Best Cedar Mulch For Your Garden in 2024
Rating: 8.6
Author: calvzz

SaveSavedRemoved 0

What is Cedar Mulch?

Cedar mulch is also known as cedar bark mulch. It is a type of mulch made from cedar trees. It is a popular choice for landscaping and gardening because it makes your garden looks great and has a pleasant smell. Cedar mulch also has natural insect-repellent properties, which can be beneficial for gardens that are prone to pests.

Brief Properties Of Cedar Tree

Cedar trees are evergreen conifers that belong to the pine family. They are native to North America, Europe, and Asia. Cedar trees can grow to be over 150 feet tall and live for hundreds of years. The wood of cedar trees is strong and durable, making it a popular choice for construction and furniture. Cedar trees are also used in landscaping, as they provide shade and privacy.

Best Cedar Mulch Reviews in 2024

Here we review 5 types of mulch for residential and commercial landscapes.

#1. 100% Natural Cedar Shavings Mulch

For those who are interested in the best cedar mulch, we highly recommend that you try out the 100% Natural Cedar Shavings Mulch.

This cedar mulch is very popular because it is pretty pure with no artificial ingredients or fillers. It contains 100% cedar bark chips and is pretty rot and insect resistant. What more do you really need?

So, when it comes to the best cedar mulch, we highly recommend that you try out the 100% Natural Cedar Shavings Mulch, which is made from quality cedar chips.

Many people really like it because it does not have any fillers and contains 100% cedar bark and wood. It is hard to find a pure product these days as so many producers try to save costs.

Additionally, it is rot and insect resistant, which is a nice little bonus.

It smells great and the plants and flowers love this stuff. It is a little pricey but we think that it is definitely worth it.

Just keep in mind that these cedar pieces are a little small which can be a dealbreaker for some people who need bigger cuts.

PROS:

100% Natural Cedar organic material
For outdoor and indoor plants
Soil retain moisture
Prevents soil from drying out
Can be used as an air freshener
Natural subtle cedar scent
Made in USA
Can be used in animal bedding
Put in kitty litter for pets
Absorbs smelly odors
Great for hanging planters
The bag contains close to 5 Quarts for a 4 Quart price

CONS:

Sometimes people want a stronger scent

View on Amazon

#2. OLDCASTLE LAWN & GARDEN Cedar Bark Mulch

Next up, we have the OLDCASTLE LAWN & GARDEN Cedar Bark Mulch, which is the best cedar mulch for those who want something easy and simple for flowering bedding and plant plots.

Perhaps the main reason why people get this in the first place is that it really helps protect your plants and leads to healthier plants. It greatly reduces soil compaction and root rot.

This cedar mulch also does a great job of reducing evaporation as it retains plenty of much-needed moisture.

This also means that your plants need less water.

Finally, it also does a great job in preventing weeds and soil mold as it keeps the light and harmful rays from your soil so fewer weeds and mold can grow.

PROS:

Nice smell
Controls moisture retention
Made with 100% shredded cedar
Adds incredible color to any landscape project
Easy use for most landscaping
Maintain the temperature of the soil throughout each season

CONS:

Not always available

View on Amazon

#3. Vundahboah Amish Goods Cedar Wood Mulch Chips

Another really nice option when it comes to the best cedar mulch is the Vundahboah Amish Goods Cedar Wood Mulch Chips.

This is a lovely red cedar mulch that spreads easily and is not too chunky.

If you like your mulch in smaller easier to manage pieces, the Mulchex Specialized Cedar Mulch is a great choice.

It works well with a large variety of plants, flowers, and fruits.

We really like it because it has a nice cedar aroma that is 100% natural and comes from cedar bark without throwing in fillers or artificial ingredients.

So many other companies are guilty of injecting other things inside of their mulch to keep costs down, but we like that Mulchex keeps it real.

PROS:

Nice aromatic red cedar
Great for owl boxes
Can be used for pet bedding
Nice for outdoor landscaping
Produced from fresh cedar
All organic wood
Natural with no coatings, sprays, or chemicals
Originate from Tennessee
Environmentally conscious
Long-lasting

CONS:

Decompose slowly nutrients into the soil

View on Amazon

#4. Cedarcide Insect Repelling Cedar Mulch – Best Granules

The Cedarcide Insect Repelling Cedar Mulch is a bit of a curveball because you typically don’t think of this when you are looking for cedar mulch for your plants, garden, or landscaping.

The stand-out feature is definitely the fact that it repels pests and insects like none other and it does so in a 100% nontoxic way.

This means it is children and pets-safe as well.

Additionally, this mulch is not chunky at all, so keep that in mind when purchasing.

It spreads easily and gives you really nice coverage and bang for the buck. It does have a bit of a funky scent to it which can be offputting for some people so just be aware of this issue before buying.

PROS:

Pet friendly
Family safe
Effective bug repellent – mosquitoes, fleas, chiggers
Environmentally conscious
Long-lasting

CONS:

Decompose slowly so does not add many nutrients into the soil

View on Amazon

#5. Natural Cedar Wood Shavings

Finally, we have the Natural Cedar Wood Shavings, which is designed for litter boxes and hamster cages, but it is actually a pretty good shredded cedar mulch as well.

It is nice to know that this cedar mulch is made from 100% natural pure red cedar logs and contains no chemicals or preservatives.

What we like most about this stuff is that since it is all-natural it makes it 100% biodegradable as well.

And they do an amazing job of repelling insects, bugs, mosquitos, and other pests in your garden.

Lastly, this stuff gives you a wonderful cedar scent that lasts for a long time and will brighten up any dull garden in terms of aesthetics.

PROS:

Cedar mulch lasts for long periods
Easy to use
Not expensive
Environmentally friendly
Conserve water
Comes with a nice smell, though some may dislike it

CONS:

May decompose slowly so nutrients are not going to the soil fast enough
A bit expensive

View on Amazon

Final verdict

Cedar mulch is a great choice for your garden for a variety of reasons. It is natural, smells good, and helps to repel pests. It is also a sustainable choice, as cedar trees are renewable. So, if you are looking for an environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing mulch for your garden, cedar should be your go-to choice.

The 100% Natural Cedar Shavings Mulch is the product we prefer best. The OLDCASTLE LAWN & GARDEN Cedar Bark and the Vundahboah Amish Goods Cedar Wood Mulch Chips are great too. The Cedarcide Insect Repelling Cedar Mulch and the Natural Cedar Wood have also scored very well and we would not discount these.

In essence, all of the above products are great. It is now just a matter of price and preference.

How to Choose the best cedar mulch – A Quick Buying Guide

There are a few things that you need to consider when choosing the best cedar mulch.

Climate
Soil
Budget
Visual appearance
Safety

1. Climate

The first thing you need to do is to consider the climate. Cedar mulch can be used in both cold and warm climates, but it performs better in warm climates. So if you are based in a cold climate, you may want to look for an alternative solution.

2. Adding nutrients to the soil

The second thing you may want to consider is the type of soil you have. Cedar mulch is a good choice for soils that are acidic or have a lot of clay (clay is a high-acidity soil). It’s not as good of a choice for soils that are alkaline or sandy. And if you want a lot of nutrients, then you may need to combine the mulch with a fertilizer.

3. Budget for your landscape project

The third thing to consider is how much you want to spend on mulch. Cedar mulch is more expensive than other types of mulch, but it lasts longer.

4. Visual appearance of cedar mulch in the garden

The final thing to consider is the appearance of cedar mulch. Some mulches are dyed cedar mulch, while others have a natural color. Best to use the natural colored one.

5. Safety and insect pests

You really need to consider safety. If you have young children, then it is best not to buy nuggets types mulch. You also are better to check the mulch for any added chemicals if you use the mulch for your vegetable garden. In addition, you may want to check if the mulch is pet safe and good for beneficial insects (i.e., insects that are not harmful to your plants). Note that cedar provides a layer of protection against insect pests (the harmful ones).

Below we look at the best types of cedar. We summarize the mulches that provide nutrients to the soil, soil moisture, and a cedar bark that suppresses weeds, amongst other characteristics.

How to Use Cedar Mulch in the Garden?

Cedar mulch is mainly used as a way to add both beauty and protection to your garden. Here are three top tips on how to use cedar mulch in your garden or potted plants:

Spread a layer of cedar mulch around the base of your plants. This will help protect the roots and prevent weeds from growing.
You can also use cedar mulch as a top dressing for potted plants. This will help retain moisture and keep the soil from drying out.
If you have any bare spots in your garden where your soil is at risk of eroding, then spread a layer of cedar mulch over them. Such a layer of mulch will definitely help prevent erosion and keep the area looking neat and tidy.
When using cedar mulch in your garden, we highly advise you to leave a gap around the outside of the stems or trunks of trees so that the mulch doesn’t actually touch your tree’s trunk. The rationale is that wet mulch pressed up against the stem or trunk can cause the plant to rot. But there is another point that I want us to look at, which is that cedar mulch laid out on the tree will also deprive the trunk of airflow. This will encourage disease. So best to stay away from this.

Pros and cons of cedar mulch for your landscape

Below are the pros and cons of cedar mulch for beds and gardens.

Cedar Mulch Benefits – The Pros

We already mentioned most of the Cedar mulch benefits above. But it is best to quickly summarise these before providing you with the best cedar mulch available on the market. So, why would you choose cedar mulch? Here is why:

Water retention: It helps to retain moisture in the soil, which is especially important during hot, dry summers.
Cedar mulch keeps the roots of your plants cool and protects them from extremes of temperature. In essence, the mulch is a natural soil temperature control system throughout the seasons (cool in summer or warm soil in winter).
Weed control: The mulch is great at controlling weeds’ growth.
Cedarwood mulch can add a pleasing fragrance to your garden. It adds more nutrients to the soil without having to buy more chemical fertilizers.
In addition to adding nutrients, using cedar mulch will also retain nitrogen from the soil.
The mulch will help you make a beautiful garden.
This mulch lasts longer than other natural mulches.
Cedar mulch is an organic mulch solution.
The wood chips make the plants in your garden stand out from other unwanted vegetation.
Cedar mulch can be used for pest control. It basically repels insects naturally.
Bio-degradable: A 100% bio-degradable product, which does no harm to your garden.

The cons of using cedar mulch

There are three main cons against using cedar as mulch. these are:

There are times when the mulch can deplete your soil of nitrogen (and other times when it prevents this to occur – Acidic soils are to avoid this mulch).
It can discourage beneficial bugs from flourishing in your garden, but at the same time, it repels bad bugs.
It can make the soil more acidic and this is why it is best to not use this mulch if your soil is already acidic.

FAQ on cedar mulch in the garden

Here are the answers to frequently asked questions we receive.

Is using cedar mulch good?

Definitely, yes. Cedar mulch is an excellent choice for mulching gardens and landscapes.

It is long-lasting, holds its color well, and as said above, it has a pleasant aroma. Cedar also deters many types of insects, making it a good choice for those looking for an organic way to protect their plants. Overall, cedar mulch is a popular choice for gardeners because of its pleasant smell and long-lasting color.

It is greatly appreciated when mulching trees and shrubs. However, high-quality cedar bark mulch can be expensive. Note that, cedar mulch should be applied two to 3 inches deep. You definitely need to keep it away from the trunk of the tree or shrub (read on for more information).

Can cedar mulch be used in a rose garden?

Yes, cedar mulch can be used in a rose garden. Cedar mulch is a good choice for organic gardening because it is a natural repellent of insects and diseases. It is also a good choice for people who are allergic to certain chemicals in other types of mulch. Cedar mulch also helps to keep the soil cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Which is the best cedar or cypress mulch?

There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on personal preference. Some people prefer cedar mulch because it has a pleasant smell and is naturally resistant to rot and decay. Others prefer cypress mulch because it is less likely to float away in heavy rains and also has a pleasant smell. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide which type of mulch they prefer.

How is cedar mulch different when compared to other mulches?

The most popular type of mulch is wood mulch. There are different types of wood mulch, but the most popular is cedar mulch.

Cedar mulch is different from other types of wood mulch because it has a natural repellent to insects and fungi. This means that it will last longer than other types of wood mulch. Cedar mulch also has a pleasant smell that lasts for a long time.

Is cedar mulch really an effective insect repellent?

Cedar mulch is an effective insect repellent. The scent of cedar is offensive to many insects, including mosquitoes, ants, and ticks. When used as mulch, cedar repels insects by creating a barrier that they don’t want to cross. Cedar also has natural properties that make it resistant to rot and decay, so it lasts longer than other types of mulch.

Where not to use cedar mulch?

Many gardener experts advise that Cedar mulch should not be used in gardens where plants are grown for food. The oils in cedar can be harmful to edible plants. Cedar mulch can also be harmful to pets if they ingest it, though this is highly unlikely to happen.

Is cedar mulch one of the best weed killers?

Mulch is a layer of material placed on the surface of an area of soil. Its primary purpose is to conserve moisture in the soil, but it also suppresses weed growth and provides a tidy appearance to the area. Cedar mulch is an excellent weed killer because it contains natural oils that help to suffocate and kill weeds. These high levels of a natural oil substance called lignin. Lignin is a complex molecule that is resistant to decomposition, so it lasts a long time in the environment. So cedar mulch does help to prevent new weeds from germinating and growing. Cedar mulch is a safe, natural, and effective way to control weeds in your garden or landscape.

Can cedar mulch repel pests?

Cedar mulch is often touted as a natural pest repellent. But does it really work? Many studies have shown that cedar mulch around your plants can be effective at repelling certain small pests, including ants, termites, and cockroaches (as discussed above). However, other pests, such as mice and rats, are not repelled by cedar mulch. So, if you’re looking for a natural way to keep small pests away, cedar mulch may be worth a try. If you want a repeller for larger pets, then you need to go something else. We’re afraid that there’s nothing easy for the larger pets. Cedar mulch helps only with small insects.