Dyed to mulch

I recently noticed that a local retailer was having a good sale on dyed mulch. Since I needed copious amounts of the stuff, I was tempted by the price but not sure if the dyed stuff was such a good idea.

After a little research, I determined that it definitely was not.

It turns out that dyed mulch will actually do more harm than good in your garden. These colored mulches are made from shredded, recycled waste wood--things like pallets and shipping crates and construction debris. And, since the dyes will only penetrate freshly shredded wood, they are not even composted before they're dyed.

Fresh wood chips are never a good idea. They steal nitrogen from your soil and can lead to chlorosis in your plants. Some experts even suggest that toxins in the wood itself (things like asbestos and lead-based paints) could be an even bigger danger.

Bottom line: Leave those dyed mulches at the garden center and stick with an organic mulch like shredded hardwood bark or leaf compost.