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What is Mulch Dye?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Mulch dye is a product used to color mulch, either before it is applied to landscaping or once it is in place. When people purchase mulch, they are usually offered an option of buying several colored products in addition to plain mulch, and it is also possible to buy a mulch dye and apply it to mulch that is already in place. Using dyes is intended to help mulch blend in with the landscaping more effectively or to create specific desired aesthetic looks.

This product comes in a variety of hues and shades. Many mulch dyes come in earth tones like browns, oranges, and greens so they look natural. Blacks, reds, and other colors are also available. People may use mulch dye to offset their plants with a bold contrasting color, to help mulch blend in with surrounding soil and rock formations, and to create colored patterns and designs in mulch in some landscaping schemes.

Mulch dye is often applied to hardwood mulch.
Mulch dye is often applied to hardwood mulch.

Designers of mulch dye face a number of challenges when developing their products. The first is the need for a dye that will resist ultraviolet light, as mulch is outdoors under the sun and in harsh weather conditions. While people expect mulch to fade over time, a rapidly fading dye is undesirable. Another concern is leaching of the dye, as may occur during watering, heavy rain, and under snow. Making dyes colorfast is important, as is using nontoxic dyes so that if the dye does leach, it will not harm the garden.

Some companies make organic or natural mulch dye products. These generally do not last as long as synthetic dyes and are often not very colorfast, but some consumers believe their environmentally safe properties outweigh these drawbacks. Synthetic dyes are more rugged and durable, although not necessarily as safe. These dyes can be applied to wood, bark, straw, and rubber, all of which are used for mulching in a variety of conditions. People applying dye to mulch after it has been spread will need a sprayer for an even application, and it is a good idea to cover plants while dying the mulch.

When considering colored mulch, people may want to get chips of various samples to see how they look. It can also be helpful to seek out landscaping with dyed mulch to get an impression of the way dyed mulch looks when it is applied in large volumes. A color that looks pleasing when it's on a handful of mulch chips might be overwhelming when spread across a whole landscaping scheme.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

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    • Mulch dye is often applied to hardwood mulch.
      By: Wendy Kaveney
      Mulch dye is often applied to hardwood mulch.