Mulches for tree

[Green-Moo]

Could anyone advise me on the best mulches to use around the base of new trees please? I'm looking to suppress weeds and to retain moisture.

[Serenity]

Any new plantings I have I just buy a standard bag of mulch from the garden center. Organic mulches are probably the best quality of all but I'm too cheap to pay the price for them! I like to scatter the bark types on top. It really does help prevent the soil drying to a crisp.

[SageMother]

We are fortunate. The city has a free mulch give away every May. This year it is on May 3rd. The mulch is made from discarded Christmas trees and might be something that would work for your situation.

Does your city have a free mulch day?

[tater03]

You're so lucky that your community has free mulch day. We don't have that. I have used the red mulch around my trees.

[Green-Moo]

Thankyou for the posts. My area does not have a free mulch day, and I will not be buying something in to use. Tater, what is a red mulch? What's in it?

Currently I use a layer of cardboard or cotton based fabric for it's weed suppressant qualities, topped with something like dried bracken, straw or similar to make it look better.

[SageMother]

Thankyou for the posts. My area does not have a free mulch day, and I will not be buying something in to use. Tater, what is a red mulch? What's in it?

Currently I use a layer of cardboard or cotton based fabric for it's weed suppressant qualities, topped with something like dried bracken, straw or similar to make it look better.

Your solution sounds like the easiest, least expensive, and most eco-friendly.

I knew a lady who used shredded newspaper as compost. I wonder if plain, uncolored newsprint would work as part of a mulch mixture as well?