When it’s time to freshen up your flower beds to keep them looking nice, you will have to make a big decision. Should you use mulch or pine straw? There are pros and cons to consider for each when making your decision. Here are some things our team at Chirs James Landscaping hope you consider when making your decision.
Pros of Pine Straw
Pine straw is a very popular choice among homeowners because of how easy it is to use. It is far less expensive, as far as single bags go than mulch. You should be able to find cheap bags of pine straw at any home improvement store.
Pine straw is also incredibly easy to use. It is easy to spread in your flower beds and can be easily rearranged after you have finished spreading the pine straw. Using pine straw requires little effort and practically no advanced knowledge of gardening.
Cons of Pine Straw
While pine straw may be a cheaper option than mulch short-term, it may end up costing you more money in the long run. Pine straw needs to be more refreshed than mulch. That means you may end up spending more money on pine straw since you need to buy it so often.
Adding too much pine straw can mean too much acid is being added to the soil. This can damage your bed and anything planted in it. Pine straw can also be easily blown around due to wind. This means that pine straw could require frequent cleanup.
Pros of Mulch
As mentioned earlier, mulch is more expensive than pine straw in the short-term. However, it stays in place longer than pine straw does, meaning you don’t have to pay for replacements that often. If your goal is to save money in the long run, then mulch may be the right choice for you.
Mulch also provides a better moisture barrier for plants than pine straw. This can also help you save money in the long run as you won’t have to worry about buying new plant seeds. It also adds extra nutrients to your soil.
Cons of Mulch
Again, mulch is more expensive than pine straw. If you are looking to save money in the short-term, pine straw may be a better option for you. Mulch also doesn’t go as far as you may think it would.
This means that you may have to buy more mulch than you would need to buy pine straw. It is more difficult to spread than pine straw. You will need to allot more time when you decide it’s time to spread mulch.
Is a Combination Better?
If you can’t decide between the two, or long some of the pros of pine straw and some of the pros of mulch, a combination may be the choice for you! This is a very popular option among homeowners. A combination may also be a great idea if your yard features different types of beds.
Mulch is a great option for beds that you would like to keep looking fresh with little maintenance. Meanwhile, pine straw is a great choice if you have pine trees in your back yard or have a natural surface area to cover.
Let Our Team Help!
If you’re a homeowner in the Waldwick, New Jersey area, our team here at Chris James Landscaping can help you. We offer a wide range of services that will make sure your yard is looking as good as possible. Give us a call today to find out how we can help you.