It adds visual interest to our outdoor spaces while it nourishes the perennials and annuals in our flower beds, and feeds our vegetable bed plantings.

It also provides utility. Layered over garden paths it can keep us out of the mud and, over time, change the structure of our dirt paths from a slippery impasse to a loamy trail that's ready for foot traffic.

Clearly, mulch is a good thing! So, when it starts to roam, our gardening spidey sense cycles up to high alert.

Read on to learn what causes mulch erosion, what types of mulch can correct this problem, why landscape edging is the best option for gardens where mulch is on the move.

Plus: mulching do's and don'ts to increase your success at creating a thriving garden environment.

Let's get to it!

Organic mulch held in place with wood edging that separates a garden bed from a lawn.

What's Causing My Mulch To Move?

Weather

We earthlings are experiencing increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.

Soil and mulch loss is a growing concern even in locales where navigating weather and managing weather-related events such as tornados or flooding has never been an issue.

In recent years I've been caught more than once tinkering in the garden on windy days only for strong winds to kick up sending me running inside to escape what feels like - or is! - a derecho.

We've all witnessed major storm events in the US and around the globe where the flow of water from heavy rains create flood conditions.

If your garden is located in a pre-existing or newly minted flood zone and here comes unprecedented rain, there's not much you can do about your mulch floating down the street.

Drainage

In situations where flooding is a just-you situation, you may be looking at a drainage issue.

A good friend of mine had an issue with old gutters that caused water to creep under her roof. The fix required installing new, bigger gutters.

The new gutter spouts were directed down into the backyard. And wow - were they effective in removing water from the roof. So effective that her backyard garden flooded with every heavy rain!

Saddled with a new problem, she needed a new solution. And she found one.

She dug a french drain and routed the rainwater to a newly created rain garden which she filled with plants that thrive in wet soil. Voila - problem solved.

If you realize that your mulch travels when it rains, maybe have a look at your drainage system including your gutter spouts and drainage pipes.

The fix could be as simple as re-routing a spout or more involved requiring you to get creative with a shovel to create a rain garden or water feature in your garden.

Slopes

If your garden is located on sloping ground, keeping mulch layers in place can be a tough task.

What to do when "slope creep" is taking your mulch on a ride and leaving your soil to fend for itself?

Whether you're dealing with a steep slope or a gently sloping yet still troublesome area, there are a number of strategies you can try.

There are number of recommendations for treating an untreated slope to keep mulch (and soil) where you need it. Landscape netting is one. Mulch is another.

The trick with mulch is choosing the right mulch. Read on.

Organic mulch in a large flower bed with tall wood edging keeping the mulch in place.

Are You Using the Right Mulch?

The types of mulches available to use fall into one of two categories: organic mulch and inorganic mulch.

Organic Mulch

Organic mulches are made of organic material that will break down over time, feeding your plants and building up your soil in the process.

Organic mulch materials include wood mulch such as cypress or cedar mulch, bark mulch, nuggets, and wood chips.

Other organic matter to use as mulch includes pine straw, pine needles, and grass clippings.

FYI: Mulch Glue

A tactic that could be useful for keeping organic mulch in place is to use glue.

Yes - glue!

There are a number of "mulch lock" products available, and homemade DIY formulas too, that are specifically made to hold a layer of mulch in place.

An online search for "mulch glue" will turn up everything you need to know.

If you're solving for a slope problem in particular, mulch glue could be the answer you've been looking for.

Inorganic Mulch

Inorganic mulches are made of inorganic materials, meaning they don't break down over time in the way that organic mulches do.

Inorganic mulch includes rubber mulch and stone mulches such as pea gravel, crushed gravel, pebbles and river rocks.

Which Type of Mulch Is Better At Staying In Place?

Since we're talking about putting something down and hoping it stays put, it makes sense to explore heavier mulches. Stones naturally nab the top spot if you're considering weight.

So, if it works for your situation - yes - choose a stone mulch such as river rocks. Heavy rocks will obviously be less prone to floating away than something like wood chips.

But don't count out organic mulches altogether.

Pine needles and pine straw mulch are contenders. The individual pieces of either of these organic mulches will knit together, essentially forming a mat that may rise with the tide but not float away.

If you prefer a wood mulch, lean into shredded hardwood mulches and away from mulch that comes in a nugget form like pine bark nuggets.

Nuggets are individual pieces of wood that have a tendency to float - and float away - in a deluge.

Like pine needles and straw, shredded wood mulch knits together creating a mat that tends to stay where you put it.

A flower bed with mulch contained by wood garden borders.

What's Garden Edging Got To Do With It?

In the garden mulch tends to be more than decorative.

It feeds and nourishes plants, keeps plant roots in ideal temps, and helps keep moisture at the ready where plants need it.

For us gardeners, choosing the right mulch is about choosing the mulch that supports healthy plants in our gardens.

Plants may need mulch that adds acidity and so we choose one type of mulch, or alkalinity and so we choose another.

They may be sun lovers that need a little extra mulch protection to keep roots cool in the summer.

In these situations we're choosing the best mulch type for the health of our old and new plants, and the overall garden environment.

Whether you use rubber or plastic edging, or landscape edging made of metal or wood, garden edging is there to contain all of these healthy plant requirements.

It is a physical barrier that defines where garden spaces begin and end, and aims to keep mulch in its place.

So, if your top concern is the health of your garden and keeping mulch in place is a part of your healthy garden strategy, garden edging is what you need!

Boldly Go & Install Edging

Timing

The best time to put down mulch is after the rainy season. Shoot for the start of the growing season - late Spring or early Summer - to avoid the heavy rains of late Winter and early Spring that can wash away mulch.

Let Your Use Case Be Your Guide

The purpose of the planting beds you're creating will drive your mulch choices and also the edging you install.

If you're creating a new vegetable garden, your vegetable beds may need several inches of edging to contain layers of soil, compost, and mulch.

Or maybe you're building a mulch bed this Spring that you'll turn into a flower bed in the Fall. This may call for taller edging at the start to contain an extra large dose of wood chips to smother grass, weed growth, and weed seeds.

(Did you know that 2xEDGE Staples are easy to remove and repurpose? If you need tall garden borders now but ultimately want borders with a lower profile, 2xEDGE Staples will get you there. Give 2xEDGE a try.)

Whatever your garden beds will host, your edging choices will follow.

Don't Skip Landscape Design

Will you be gardening in your front yard where curb appeal is a consideration?

Will your garden contain specimen plantings that would be well served by defined beds of their own?

Are you working with large areas connected by paths or is your garden small and intimate?

Does your aesthetic lean rustic or modern?

Your design will certainly impact your edging materials and guide you to good choices.

Do Skip Hard Work

Installing garden edging can be hard work. So definitely consider the level of effort different edging installations require.

For example, do you want to dig trenches or lug bags of concrete all over your property? No, right?

(If you agree, and why wouldn't you, you might want to check out the 2xEDGE solution for garden edging installation. Skip the trench digging and lug only a rubber mallet to your project site! In my humble opinion, it's the best way to install the edging material of your choice with just a little bit of effort.)

If you're the one wearing the tool belt and garden clogs, there's no shame in taking the path of least resistance as long as your requirements are met.

Do Skip the Weed Barrier

If you're considering using plastic sheeting, landscape fabric, or cardboard as a weed barrier, there are a couple of things to know.

Plastic sheeting and landscape fabric underneath mulch can block the nutrients mulch aims to supply to your plants from actually getting to your plants.

Using cardboard as a weed barrier, sometimes referred to as cardboard sheet mulching, is problematic. We've got a whole post about it.

Do your garden and your wallet a favor and skip the weed barrier. Go with wood chips which you can get for free!

Add Mulch and Relax

How much mulch you need will depend on your garden requirements.

Again, think about your use cases (see above) to assess whether you need thin layers or a thick layer of mulch.

And, of course, if mulch is prone to move around on you due to weather, drainage, or structural issues, use a heavy mulch as suggested above.

A flower bed around a tree mulched with wood chips kept in place with wood edging.

Do's & Don'ts

Know When You're Out Of Your Depth

In general, experts recommend dressing garden beds with two to four inches of mulch.

To find out what type and amount of mulch is best in your specific location and for your specific application, check in with a nearby university extension. They know it all and are happy to share!

Hug a Tree - Just Not With Mulch

When you pile all that mulch up against a tree trunk you've taken a good thing and turned it into a bad situation - for your tree!

Avoid the mulch volcano! Your tree will thank you.

Plants Hate Volcanos, Too

When spreading mulch in garden beds, apply the same love to your plants as you do your trees.

Keep mulch away from the base of the plant and give your plants room to breathe - and thrive.

So, Now You Know👍🏼

Mulch is a critical ingredient to healthy plants and gardens.

When it comes to garden spaces, employing a physical barrier like landscape edging is a really great way to contain mulch, offering a good chance of keeping mulch where you intended it to be - in service to your plants.

If you want to max out your edging options consider 2xEDGE Staples. They work with the affordable, customizable, easy to obtain two-by lumber of your choice up to 2x6. Whether you're containing a lot or a little mulch, create just the right edging profile for your garden and your aesthetic.

Photo Credits📸

Photos included in this article were taken by 2xEDGE and are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International.

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