Is red mulch toxic to animals?

Answer 1

It depends on the type of dye used. Many companies manufacture organic dyes that are safe for trees and human contact. Ask the mulch supplier about the dye manufacturer and research the company. Many colorants also contain other additives, such pesticides and mold inhibitors, which may be harmful or safe for trees and humans. Use care when applying colored mulch (or any kind of mulch) around the base of a tree. You don't want to pack the mulch around the trunk, which may damage the bark contacting the mulch. When properly applied, colored mulch can actually enhance the organic structure around the tree, just like other forms of wood mulch.

Two of the most important considerations are the raw materials and the equipment used to make the mulch. You can find a vast number of websites citing the environmental destruction caused by harvesting cypress trees for mulch. In most areas, you can find mulch made from bark, wood waste (including pallets, sawmill waste, and logging slash), and more renewable wood sources. These mulches can offer good visual appeal and landscaping function. Buying mulch made from waste materials helps reduce the amount of wood sent to the landfill or burning pit, and it is better for local economies. Also, mulch quality can vary greatly with the equipment used to produce it. Mulch produced in a single pass through the grinding equipment often has fewer fine particles for better cover. The equipment should also have some sort of metal separation device to remove nails and other forms of ferrous metal that can end up in mulch.

Ask your mulch supplier if the equipment and raw materials meet these requirements.

Answer 2

Is red mulch toxic too dogs?