Walk through any neighborhood in Apex or Cary and you will see both: dark hardwood mulch in some beds and golden pine straw in others. Both protect your plants and make the yard look finished. The right choice comes down to the look you want and the beds you have.
What both of them do
- Hold moisture in the soil through hot summers
- Keep roots cooler in summer and protected in winter
- Help keep weeds from sprouting
- Give beds a clean, cared-for look
Pine straw
Pine straw is a Southern classic. The long needles knit together into a mat, so it stays put on slopes and in heavy rain where mulch tends to wash out. It is light, easy to spread and suits the azaleas, camellias and hollies common in Triangle yards. The tradeoff is that it fades from rich brown to gray faster, so many homeowners refresh it twice a year.
Hardwood mulch
Hardwood mulch gives beds a darker, more formal look and holds its color longer. As it breaks down it adds organic matter to the soil, which our clay can use. It is heavier and can wash out of sloped beds in a hard storm, so it works best on flat or gently sloped areas.
How much to use
Whichever you pick, don't overdo it. About 2 to 3 inches of mulch, or a few inches of loose pine straw that settles down, is plenty. Thicker layers can keep water from reaching the soil. Always keep material pulled back from tree trunks and the side of the house. Mulch piled up against trunks, sometimes called a "mulch volcano," traps moisture against the bark and can slowly damage the tree.
The quick answer
Choose pine straw for slopes, natural-looking beds and a classic Carolina look. Choose hardwood mulch for a darker, more formal look on flat beds where you want color that lasts.
