Contaminated Mulch

[NewToy]

I just received an e-mail from a gardening buddy regarding the glut of mulch this year. Seems that all the hurricane activity has created this situation with all the overturned trees. The problem is with the mulch from around New Orleans since it has a high incidence of Formosan termite contamination. I guess these things have quite a foothold in that part of the country and are tough to kill/control.
Anyone else heard of this?

John

 

[ronjhall]

Depends on were you live if it will be a problem.
Here is a link to one site with info. Truth or Fiction.
One of our gardening radio programs talked about it this last weekend. The biologist on the program did not think it would be a problem here in Michigan. I do not plan on buying anything but cedar mulch from northern Michigan this year.

 

[SPIKER]

actually this is a myth yes they are there but the area is not aloud to export due to this problem. not that some may not try it. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

but generally most products are pretty safe when bought from mass produced commercial items. always check dstuff out though just to be safe.

mark M

 

[slowrev]

According To my university extension office this is not a myth. Of course not all mulch is contaminated, but how can you tell.
Ben

 

[PineRidge]

First read this story in our local newspaper. They were interviewing a local nursery owner that went on to say that there was absolutely no truth to the story. He said all wood is strictly prohibited from being taken from the stricken area.

Then in the next breath they went on to say that if you buy mulch to slit open the bags and spread it out on concrete a day before you will be using it.

Now I'll admit that I'm no rocket scientist but why the heck would anyone need to spread mulch out on concrete a full day before needing it if there wasn't at least some truth to the story? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

WOW look at the size of that termite! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dmccarty]

I could see areas in the Gulf getting problematic mulch. But it would suprise me with the price of fuel that mulch from the Gulf would get very far. I am paying $18 a yard for hardwood mulch that I'm sure is from local saw mills. One supplier had cypress mulch from GA that was something like $32 a yard. A big part of that price was the fuel cost.

In my area of NC there are so many land clearing projects that require drum chippers so there seems to be lots of mulch. Not to mention local mills.

Later,
Dan

 

[slowrev]

Pine ridge, you don't think the nursery owner would be dumb enough to say not to buy mulch do ya ? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Ben

 

[NewToy]

Are there some types of mulch that are more likely to be infested? For instance hardwood mulch as opposed to cypress mulch. I was under the impression that the cypress variety is somewhat more bug resistant.

John

 

[PineRidge]

Ben the whole topic smelled a little fishy to me. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[dmccarty]

Yep, Cypress and cedar is supposed to be bug and rot resistant.

Later,
Dan

 

[jinman]

I got the email and it really gave me a good laugh. It said we should all not buy mulch at Home Depot and Lowes. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif What kind of "deathwish" would it take for those two corporations to sell termite contaminated mulch? They would have to want to commit corporate suicide to do such a silly thing. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

...and if you were a person in the business of mulching tons of pine bark and cypress, don't you think you might locate yourself somewhere close to a sawmill instead of a stinking flooded city with very few trees compared to forested areas? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But hey! I'm going to be on the safe side and buy all my mulch at Wal*Mart since they weren't mentioned in the email. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Bird]

Yep, I got that e-mail, too. Sure glad I'm not in the market for any mulch this year. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Jstpssng]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yep, Cypress and cedar is supposed to be bug and rot resistant.
)</font>

That's why I've alway's wondered why so many cedar trees have woodpecker holes in them... and when you cut those trees down the ants come running out of them. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Fortunately for me it would take a pretty big bag to hold the mulch for any project I've undertaken. It's been many years, but I always preferred to drive down to the sawmill and load my pickup.