I'm not a ragaing envrironmentalist, but cutting down and chopping up a tree just so it can be used as much is just stupid. Cypress trees are be decimated. They are a slow growing species and are not a easily renewable resource. USe the pine straw and leave the cypress where it belongs.

Here are a few articles you might want to read.

http://www.napa.ufl.edu/oldnews/mulch.htm

http://louisiana.sierraclub.org/honeyisland/cmbrochure.pdf

http://www.tbep.org/pdfs/Mulch_Bro.pdf

I wonder about your statement that pine straw needs to be replenished 3-4 times a year. Why? It doesn't decay that quickly. Once every spring is the norm around here. Perhaps you aren't putting down a thick enough layer.

agreeing with PeaBee

plus, I've always heard that cypress mulch uses up the nitrogen to decompost

pine bark or nuggets maybe ?
and pine straw, admittedly is nice looking when orange=colored, is extremely flammable

I think pine straw looks nice but, I have so much it kills everything. And what can you do with it. I'm not really sure but I don't think you can use it for compost. I would think it adds to much acid to the soil, which is a big problem I have now. I couldn't get anything to grow (veggies) on my property. It has a lot of pine trees. When I finally got around to testing the soil ph., it was about 5.7 and I believe its because of all the pine needles decomposing on my grounds. But if anyone really wants it for a great mulch, feel free to come get all you want.

Bill

Unless at closing you recieved covenants which forbids you to choose mulch of your own choice, there's nothing much they can do except harrass you. Good luck,Lin