The Best Mulch for Flower Beds in Alabama

Types

• Some of the best mulching materials in Alabama include ground corn cobs, pine needles, leaves, gravel and bark. A 3-inch covering of mulch works best, regardless of type.

Benefits

• Ground corn cob mulch performs double duty, working as a mulch while simultaneously improving soil structure. Both pine needles and gravel offer durability, while tree leaves provide nutrients. Bark works well for weed control, outlasts many other kinds of mulch and is widely available at garden centers and home improvement stores.

Warning

• Even the best mulches come with disadvantages. The vole is a rodent, two species of which are common in Alabama. Thick, undisturbed mulch encourages vole activity in Alabama landscapes. Keep mulch at a maximum depth of 3 inches and avoid mulching in the 3-foot area around tree trunks to minimize vole damage.