Mulch offers beauty to homes and businesses by adding contrast to the buildings and the surrounding vegetation. However, its benefits go beyond the visual. Mulch retains moisture, reduces weed growth, and increases soil fertility. When choosing a color—black, brown, or red—each have their own specific advantages.

What Mulch Options are Available?

1. Black

Black mulch is developed from tree bark and is often used by commercial properties because it lasts the longest. It works best in cooler locations, as it attracts sunlight, helping plants grow.

If you’re considering black mulch, research your plants first. Delicate plants may not be able to handle the increased heat.

Black has recently become popular on residential properties. Many gray and modern homes use black to complement or contrast the color of the residence.

2. Brown

Brown mulch is also formed from tree bark. It’s often paired with both lighter and darker shades of plants to make them look more colorful. It’s seen on residential properties—especially red brick homes—but it’s popular on commercial ones as well, including playgrounds and strip malls. Brown is always in-demand because of how perfectly it matches with both plants and buildings.

3. Red

Unlike brown and black, red is formed from recycled wood chips. It’s also treated with environmentally-friendly vegetable or soy-based dyes. Manufacturers do this to ensure the surrounding shrubs, trees, and plant life will remain healthy.

Red is primarily used in parks and on commercial properties—from parking lots and strip malls to office buildings and restaurants.

However, more residences are also adopting the color. Due to its brightness, red adds contrast to light-colored plants.

Red mulch's appeal can also be entirely aesthetic. The color is often used away from plant life. Some home or property owners use it to lend some vibrancy to rock gardens, driveways, sidewalks, and concrete paths.

For 40 years, Affordable Landscape Supplies has provided a vast array of landscaping materials to the residents of Burlington, KY. They're open seven days a week and are always ready to help their clients decide on ways to make their property as beautiful as they always imagined it. From mulch and sand to 52 different types of gravel and flagstone paving options, your home or commercial property will benefit from their supplies and decades of experience. For more information on their services, visit their website. To speak to one of their knowledgeable representatives, reach out to them at (859) 586-9142.