Mulch Certification

Mulch Certification Process

• The mulch certification process ensures that any mulch the MSC certifies has met quality guidelines. Mulch is made from several types of woods, organic matter, and additional ingredients. The quality of mulch can vary because of the variety of items mulch manufacturers place in their products. The certification process uses lab tests and greenhouse tests to ensure the mulch meets certification requirements.

Product Standards

• The certification process ensures consumers that the mulch follows three core values. Certifiied mulch uses universal terminology. This allows consumers to easily compare products, because each should state what the products contains in the same way. This reduces consumer confusion. Certification means the mulch producers must compete in a fair manner, within the open market. The mulch must have a standard performance. Consumers can expect a certain level of performance when they buy similar mulches from different producers.

Certification Limits

• The certification process has limits. It does not guarantee the performance of any particular product that the Mulch and Soil Council certifies. The certification process is only a guide to help the consumer and producers of mulch determine what mulch has the most positive attributes. The Mulch and Soil Council may not be held liable for any damages that result from a mulch the MSC certifies. This means that if the mulch damages your lawn, you may not bring legal action against the MSC, just because it certified the mulch.

Testing

• The major chemical the labs test for in mulch is chromated copper arsenate. It is a wood preservative. All lab tests are done through North Carolina State University. The lab tests 2 cubic feet of mulch at a time. The lab then tests the mulch 10 times. No further tests are done, if no levels of CCA are found. Should CCA be found, N.C. State uses a battery of tests and visual analysis to confirm the results. If the tests find that the level of CCA is 10 parts per million or below, the mulch will pass.