What Is Grade-A Mulch?

Types of Mulch

• From grass clippings to newspaper, gardeners use a wide variety of substances to cover the soil around their plants. Mulch prevents weed growth; it keeps the soil warm and moist -- and delivers nutrients to plant roots as it breaks down and leeches into the soil.

Grade-A Mulch Benefits

• Because grade-A mulch contains only the shredded bark of different types of trees, such as the cypress and eucalyptus, it is superior to many other materials for providing erosion control, soil compaction, loss of moisture and for keeping your garden looking tidy and attractive. Eucalyptus grade-A mulch also smells appealing and its oils deter certain insects.

Environmental Considerations

• When you use grade-A mulch of any type, the shredded bark binds together, preventing it from blowing away or washing off your mulched areas during heavy rains, which might choke waterways and aquifers. Some types of trees, such as eucalyptus, are sustainably grown and serve as a renewable resource because they're not harvested by clearcutting forests.