Why kill a tree to grow a flower?
Say NO to Cypress Mulch

Your garden and the hurricane-threatened Gulf Coast are closer then you may think. This spring many gardeners will buy cypress mulch, not realizing that the cutting of cypress forests for mulch is destroying vital wetlands that stabilize the coast against hurricanes, storm surges and erosion.

Folks think that levees are the Gulf Coast’s first line of defense, but they are not. We rely on our coastal cypress forests for hurricane protection. Cypress wetlands absorb water like a sponge, reducing storm surge and controlling flood height and speed. Cypress wetland forests save lives and protect coastal communities, as well as serve as critical habitat for migratory birds and wildlife.

Most of the cypress mulch on the market today is ground from whole trees, and much of the cypress mulch comes from illegal logging. Cypress trees take hundreds of years to mature and a considerable portion of these cypress forests will never regenerate if cut. But state and federal government officials turn a blind eye. Meanwhile, retailers use creative language to convince gardeners that their cypress is “sustainable.” But don’t believe what’s written on the bag.

The really sad fact is that cypress mulch is not as effective as other mulches. The heartwood from mature, centuries-old, cypress trees is rot and termite resistant. But the mulch you buy in garden retail stores comes from trees that are far too young to have these qualities. A University of Florida study confirmed that cypress mulch isn’t any better for your garden than pine bark or eucalyptus mulch – or even leaf litter.

Please don’t buy cypress mulch. Choose an alternative and save our cypress forests.