Dark-Brown Mulch Landscaping Ideas

Raised Flower Beds

• Adding dark pine bark over raised flower beds offers a clean finishing touch. Whether the retaining walls are built from bricks, stones or timbers, pine bark adds a soft contrast. A 2- to 3-inch-thick uniform layer focuses attention on the flowers. Pine bark comes in shredded and large-sized pieces. Choose the smallest particles available as large nuggets of bark will float away under heavy rain.

Front Walkway

• Line your front walkway with a border of cocoa shell mulch to give your home a welcoming look. Unlike many mulches that fade over time, cocoa shell mulch gets darker as it ages. The dark brown mulch makes a bold first impression that will naturally draw the eye to your front door. Plant low-growing flowers in the mulch like geraniums -- or fragrant flowers like night-blooming jasmine -- to stimulate all of the senses as guests pass by. Unlike bark mulches, cocoa shell mulch compacts together so it doesn't float away.

Retain Moisture

• If your soil is sandy or your area doesn't receive sufficient rainfall, spread pecan shell mulch over gardens and around trees. Pecan shell mulch is among the most effective mulches for retaining moisture, and it repels slugs and snails. If you don't live in an area where pecans are processed, you can order the mulch through online gardening stores or some pecan producers.

Hillside Landscaping

• Mowing grass on a steep hillside can be dangerous, and building tiered terraces is time consuming. A simple solution to landscape a windy or steep hill is to spread a 4-inch layer of hoop bark mulch. Hoop bark is dense, heavy mulch that holds together well. If you decide to add shrubs or ground cover, hoop bark offers high moisture retention, which is ideal if water run-off is a concern.