What Color Is Hardwood Mulch?
Hardwood mulch comes in black, brown and all colors of the rainbow. Many brown mulches are natural, but dyes create most of the other colors. Does this Spark an idea?
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Natural Colors
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The colors of hardwood mulch vary with the trees used, but span a range of browns. Some have a reddish tint.
Dyes
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Dyed mulch is commonly available in red, brown and black. Some garden stores and nurseries carry a wider range of colors, such as yellow, orange, blue and green.
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Dyeing Process
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Mulch is dyed by feeding it into a hopper, where it is combined with colorant and water. A conveyor belt carries the mulch from the hopper to a container or pile.
Environmental Concerns
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Dyed mulches are often made with low quality wood, such as ground-up pallet wood, which may be treated with chemicals such as chromium, copper and arsenic. They could harm your garden. The dyes may stain clothes, skin and concrete, but are not necessarily harmful.
Weathering
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Over time, both natural and dyed hardwood mulches decompose and fade, though some maintain their color much longer than others. Periodically, add a thin layer to the top of existing mulch. Do not exceed 4 inches in total depth for chip mulches and 2 inches for shredded mulches.
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