Tips for Cypress Mulching

Placement Caveats

• Before deciding on a mulch, decide exactly where you are going to place it and what you hope to accomplish. For example, cypress, or any wood mulch whether chopped or shredded does not do well on a slope, as a heavy rain may wash it downward and strong winds may act in a similar fashion. Cypress can work well in this environment if mixed with some straw, which will absorb more water and thus help it stay in place.

Amounts

• Place cypress mulch around plants to a depth of three to six inches to help control weeds. While this may not keep all weeds from growing, the ones that do manage to come up will be easy to remove. Be careful, however, to not place cypress mulch too near plants -- especially young ones -- in order to avoid injuring them.

Application

• Apply cypress mulch to your garden or flowerbed after the ground warms in the spring. Applying it too early will delay any necessary thawing. Be sure to add an additional layer of mulch early in the summer before it becomes too hot. This will protect plant roots from excessive heat and help hold moisture in the soil. If you live in an area with extremely harsh winters, cypress mulch added before the first freeze will help protect plants from the cold.

Mulching Vines

• Cypress mulch can also protect the fruits of many plants. Place mulch around strawberry plants, melons and other plants with fruits growing on them to keep the fruits clean and to protect them from many hungry insects. Add other layers of mulch as needed. Cypress mulch is relatively inexpensive and stores well, so take advantage of any sales and stock up.