How Long Does Mulch Last? -

So… how long does mulch last? There are many different answers to this question depending on what type of mulch you use. Other things that impact the longevity of your mulch include the thickness of the mulch, the temperature where you live, and what type of plants are nearby.

When talking about the longevity of mulch, organic mulches are typically the most short-lived. This is followed by hay, grass clippings, cardboard mulch, and newspaper mulch. Longer-lasting mulches include: cedar, rubber, and synthetic mulch.

If you grow annual plants, I recommend using a mulch that decomposes quickly (like hay or grass clippings). On the other hand, wood chip mulch should be used if you grow plants with a longer lifespan, like fruit trees.

What Type Of Mulch Lasts The Longest?

Grass Clippings

Grass clipping mulch decomposes very quickly. It typically lasts between one and three months. Remember that this mulch is usually free, so it’s not a bad lifespan!

There are a few things that affect how long grass-clipping mulch lasts. They are the thickness of the mulch and the amount of water applied to the mulch. The drier it is, the slower it will decompose!

Wood Chips

It can take 3 to 8 years for the wood chip mulch to degrade completely. During that time, wood chips continue to omit essential nutrients for your plants. If you put a thick enough layer of wood chip mulch and use it to feed your plants, you shouldn’t have to worry about it for a long time. The best plants to use the wood chip mulch on are those that can live for several years so that they may benefit fully from the nutrients in the wood chips.

I highly recommend this high-quality wood chip mulch that will last for at least 4 years!

Straw

Straw typically lasts between three and six months and decomposes slowly. Since straw is derived from wheat stems, it decomposes quickly after being used as mulch. Watering the straw mulch is a must if you want it to break down even more quickly. Water it less frequently if you want it to last as long as possible.

When will the color fade out if you use wood chip mulch simply for decorative purposes? The answer is between 6 and 9 months. If you use wood chips that haven’t been painted, their natural color will change to light or dark brown, depending on how much sunlight your location receives.

Cardboard

Whether you use huge pieces or shredded cardboard, cardboard mulch can last anywhere from one to three years. Cardboard that has been shredded will last you for around a year, while cardboard that has been cut into larger pieces will degrade slowly and endure for up to three years. The water in the soil dictates how quickly the cardboard decomposes; the more water, the quicker the decomposition rate.

Water the mulch if there is a drought in your area; otherwise, the cardboard mulch will clump and dry up the soil.

Newspaper

Despite being produced largely of the same substance, wood pulp, newspapers tend to decompose far more quickly than cardboard. A mulch of newspaper typically lasts between three and nine months. However, the speed at which it decomposes depends greatly on how the newspaper was made. Since most newspapers are treated with chemicals to keep them waterproof, the rate at which the newspaper mulch decomposes is obviously slowed by these chemicals.

Leaf Mulch

The decomposition rate of leaf mulch is relatively quick; typically, it lasts 2 to 6 months. You may find that some leaves degrade more quickly than others, depending on the kind of leaves you use for the mulch. Additionally, the moisture in the mulch will affect how quickly it decomposes. The more moisture it has, the quicker it decomposes; however, certain leaves decompose more slowly than others.

Pine Needles

Pine needle mulch will often last between 9 and 18 months because pine needles take so long to break down. The breakdown process will take longer if you use the pine tree twigs on the needles. The twigs will decay much more quickly if you break them up into smaller bits in this situation. Remember that pine needles often cause the soil to become acidic and that not all plants enjoy acidic soil.

Compost

Depending on your compost, your compost mulch should last anywhere from 6 to 12 months. They will endure for six months if you compost twigs, leaves, grass clippings, and plants from your garden. On the other hand, if you use kitchen wastes as compost, the decomposition process can take a lot longer, extending the life of your compost.

Plastic Mulch

Rubber Mulch

Despite being among the poorest types of mulch, rubber mulch has the longest lifespan. The local environment mostly determines how long the rubber mulch lasts; if you live in a hot climate, you might find that the rubber mulch has begun to dissolve. If this occurs, you must swap out the rubber mulch for another kind since rubber seeping into the soil would erode the topsoil.

Final Thoughts

Most organic mulches will last you for a few months, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t replace them every few months—far from it. On the other side of things, synthetic mulches tend to last for a long time. However, they eventually need to be renewed because of weed damage and regional weather.

FAQ

How long does compost last?

The lifespan of your compost mulch should generally range from 6 to 12 months, depending on the compost you use. If you compost twigs, leaves, grass clippings, and other garden plant materials, they will last for around six months. However, using kitchen trash as compost might cause the decomposition process to take much longer and lengthen the useful life of your compost.

How long does plastic mulch last?

Your compost mulch should typically last between 6 and 12 months, depending on the compost you use. Compost garden waste such as twigs, leaves, grass clippings, and other plants will last for around six months. The breakdown process might take much longer when kitchen trash is used as compost, which lengthens the compost’s shelf life.

How Long Does Mulch Last?