Hi, I too have heard dreadful things about cypres mulch. I just looked around online and found mention of some wood I never heard of before that is supposed to be a good alternative. No idea if they have it where you live or what it costs, sorry. I am the kind that brings home free wood chips from the nearest city, so I don't know what mulch costs.

Also found a link that has lots of info about why cypress mulch is BAD to use, so take a look at that. Here is one more link http://www.cypresstreemulch.com/

Good for you for considering this. I would suggest you take the extra step and pass some of this info to your landscaper. At least mention to them about the environmental impact of cutting down cypress trees just to be mulch.

"Melaleuca mulch provides further benefits as an environmentally friendly product. Melaleuca is a non-native tree that was introduced to in the 1920?s as a way to dry up the Everglades. Because of its quick proliferation, it destroys native vegetation. Today, it is illegal to plant new melaleuca trees, but it still grows. Melaleuca mulch is an environmentally friendly alternative to cypress mulch. The enormous amounts of cypress mulch produced each year threaten the survival of this native Florida tree important for flood control, wildlife habitat and water purity."

Marcia

Here is a link that might be useful: cypress tree mulch

Cypress mulch is not the problem it is the harvesting of the trees that is the problem. However, like peat moss, the industry will tell you what they are doing is sustainable.

The absolutlely best is the local yard waste recycling facility because it is mixed organic matter that will better feed you soil than anything.

Others don't try to instruct landscapers or retailers, they must respond to the market and the market doesn't want to be instructed any more than you do. Just notice your feelings about this paragraph.

Heather, you should also know that there are no benefits to using cypress mulch, contrary to what those who harvest, market, and sell it will try to tell you. Just about any source of mulch is every bit as effective.

Here is a link to a GW discussion on the issues of cypress mulch you might want to explore: Please don't buy cypress mulch...

And you might also want to check out this article published in National Wildlife last year for details on the cypress problems.

There are so many viable, equally attractive, and even less expensive alternatives available that it is difficult for the industry to justify their continued use of cypress.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Cypress Distress

I use Eucalyptus mulch instead. They grow it on a big farm by Fort Myers. It keeps the bugs away just like cypress mulch. It looks just as good and I think it suppresses weeds much better than cypress mulch.

Here is a link that might be useful: Eucalyptus Mulch

Neither cypress nor eucalyptus keep bugs away, if so it may keep beneficals at bay or upset a good balance.

I was in the mulch business for 25 yrs and the industry promotes one old wives tale after another, I never thought that it helped anyone including the people in the business.