The Dirt on Mulch: What Works Best for East Texas Gardens

At The Marshall Garden Co.—natural hardwood mulch works hard in the East Texas heat.

Let’s be honest—mulch can be confusing. You hear one neighbor swear by pine straw. Another loads up their truck with dyed mulch every spring. Someone at church says to use rocks and forget about it altogether. So what’s the real dirt on mulch?

Here at The Marshall Garden Company, we’ve seen it all. And we’ve made a few mistakes ourselves (yes, we’ve cooked a few crepe myrtles by piling mulch too high—lesson learned).

So let’s talk about mulch—the quietly powerful, wildly underrated, gardening powerhouse.

🌿 What Mulch Does for Your Garden

Let’s start with the basics: mulch helps your garden thrive—especially in the Texas heat.

Here’s what a good layer of mulch can help do:

• Keep moisture in so you water less

• Keep weeds out so you spend more time enjoying your garden (and less time fussing with it)

• Protect your plants from temperature swings

• Improve your soil as it breaks down

• Gives your flower beds a tidy, polished finish

  
  

It’s one of those simple steps that makes everything else easier.

🌾 Best Types of Mulch for East Texas Gardens

Not all mulch is created equal—especially here in East Texas, where heat, cold, humidity, and heavy rain can test even the toughest garden. Below are the top mulch options we recommend, ranked for performance, availability, and beauty.

1. Shredded Hardwood Mulch (Undyed)

• Best for: Flower beds, foundation plantings, perennials, and shrubs

• Why we love it: This is your go-to mulch in East Texas. It holds moisture, resists erosion during storms, and slowly enriches your soil as it breaks down. Choose undyed varieties to avoid chemicals and ensure it’s safe for soil life and surrounding plants.
  

2. Cedar Bark and Other Tree Barks

• Best for: Decorative beds, native gardens, pollinator borders

• Why we love it: Cedar bark naturally repels insects and has a beautiful, aromatic finish. It breaks down more slowly than hardwood and is a great choice if you want a tidy, long-lasting look with a touch of rustic charm. Other tree barks, like cypress, can also work well—just make sure they’re sustainably harvested.
  

3. Wood Chips

• Best for: Pathways, around fruit trees, play areas, and low-maintenance zones

• Why we love it:Arborist wood chips (the kind you get from tree trimmers) are affordable or even free, and they create a natural-looking surface that’s great for suppressing weeds. They break down slower than shredded mulch but are excellent for improving soil long-term. Use wood chips around beds—not in veggie gardens—as they can temporarily tie up nitrogen during decomposition.
  

4. Composted Leaf Mulch

• Best for: Raised beds, vegetables, herbs, and roses

• Why we love it: Composted leaf mulch (sometimes referred to as leaf mold) is decomposed leaves turned into soft, earthy mulch. It’s rich in organic matter, improves soil texture, and holds water like a sponge—especially helpful in sandy or compacted soil.

Making your own? Just pile up fall leaves, keep them moist, and let nature do the rest. It’s free, sustainable, and soil-building.

5. Pine Needles (Pine Straw)

• Best for: Cottage-style beds, curved borders, herbs, and native plants

• Why we love it: Lightweight, easy to spread, and beautiful around brick homes and Southern landscapes. Pine straw doesn’t compact or float away, making it a practical, pretty choice for gardeners who want low-maintenance mulch that still performs. It can help with runoff and as pine straw breaks down, it adds acidity—perfect for azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, and blueberries.
  

🚫 What to Skip in East Texas

❌ Dyed Mulch (Black or Red)

• Fades quickly

• Can leach chemicals

• Holds too much heat in summer

❌ Rubber Mulch

• Doesn’t improve soil

• Retains heat

• Not safe for veggie beds or areas kids play
  

❌ Plastic or Weed Fabric Under Mulch

• Blocks air and water

• Can trap shallow roots

• Weeds still grow on top of the fabric eventually
  

📏 How Much Mulch Do You Need?

• 2–3 inches for most flower beds and landscape areas

• 1–2 inches for vegetables and herbs

• Always keep mulch a few inches away from plant stems and tree trunks
  

💬 Final Thoughts: Mulch That Works With Your Garden, Not Against It

When it’s done right, mulch makes gardening more beautiful, more sustainable, and less work. The key is knowing your space, your soil, and your plants—then picking the mulch that meets you there.

Whether you're working toward healthier soil, fewer weeds, or just want your garden to look good, we’ve got the right mulch for you at The Marshall Garden Co.

🛒 Need help choosing the right mulch?We carry natural hardwood, pine straw, and composted options—plus advice from folks who actually garden right here in East Texas

📏 How Much Mulch Do You Need?

• 2 to 3 inches is usually just right

• Keep mulch a few inches away from the base of your plants and tree trunks

• For annual flowers and herbs, a thinner layer (1 to 2 inches) is plenty
  

💬 Final Thoughts: Mulch That Works With Your Garden, Not Against It

When it’s done right, mulch makes gardening more beautiful, more sustainable, and less work. The key is knowing your space, your soil, and your plants—then picking the mulch that meets you there.

Whether you're working toward healthier soil, fewer weeds, or just want your garden to look good, we’ve got the right mulch for you at The Marshall Garden Co.