What Are the Benefits of Cedar Mulch for Gardens?

Soil Improvement

• Cedar mulch has many of the same benefits as other wood and bark mulches. One of these is that it creates an environment that encourages soil microorganisms and earthworms, which help aerate soil and reduce compaction.

Moisture

• Cedar mulch helps retain moisture in the soil. According to the Colorado State University Extension, cedar and other wood mulches can reduce irrigation needs by up to 50 percent in arid areas.

Other Benefits

• Cedar wood is resistant to rotting (taking up to 10 years to rot) and repels insects that might break it down, making it one of the longest-lasting mulch materials. Although it has a reputation for being toxic to young plants and causing soil to become acidic, studies by Chris Starbuck of the University of Missouri at Columbia have indicated that there is no significant downside to using cedar mulch on most plants.