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Mulch Myth
In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many rumors have flown around the country, in the media and over the web regarding the safety of mulch. Here is the real story.
During the fall of 2005, the Gulf Coast region was ravaged by hurricanes which destroyed countless trees and homes. Since then, major efforts are underway to clean up the debris caused by these devastating storms. Downed and damaged trees are being removed and processed into chips which may eventually be used as mulch. Thousands of yards of debris, including any pests contained in it, are processed daily. Consequently, questions have risen about the quality and safety of the end products.
Spurred by local news stories, there are concerns about the unintentional introduction of Formosan Termites into new areas. In February, rumors circulated warning about the mass movement of pests via mulch and wood chips.
Thankfully, entomologists and experts have a different position. In reality, it is extremely unlikely that Formosan Termites could be moved in wood chips or mulch and even less likely brought to our area. Explicit guidelines for tree and debris removal were established immediately after the hurricane clean up began. Movement of wood material is prohibited from quarantine areas, where Formosan Termites are known to exist.
All woody debris within quarantined areas must be brought to designated landfills, under the oversight of both state and federal agencies. Other facts also dispel the possibility of termite damage. The fact is that high internal temperatures and a low availability of oxygen in mulch piles exceed what most insects can withstand. Further, Formosan Termite is not known to survive above 35 degrees latitude (approximately southern Virginia) in the United States due to the cold winter temperatures. Entomologists agree that Formosan Termites are unlikely to survive the mulch making process, storage, or transportation to new areas.
We hope this alleviates any fears when placing your order for mulch this spring. Lastly, please know that all of our ‘Yard Life’ mulch is processed locally, under our direct supervision. The ingredients in our recipe contain no materials from any quarantine area. ‘Yard Life’ mulch is created by carefully blending, screening and aging tree residue byproducts. Our mulch is derived from a blend of the tree parts (twigs, branches, leaves, wood, and bark) which decompose quickly, releasing nutrients for plant growth and improving soil quality. |
