When I price bag mulch for the flower beds, It makes me feel good about the chipper/shredder.

[Jstpssng]

the hemlock bark mulch as she says the wood chips pull nitrogen from the soil around plants

So does the bark mulch... but I wouldn't mention that if I were you.
Besides, it apparently only ties it up for a thin layer on top of the soil; amd doesn't have much of an effect where the roots are.
The bigger concern is that softwood mulch in particular can affect your spil PH.

 

[CalG]

This is the same way here - we have 20 yards of wood chips 2-3 years old and wife still wants the hemlock bark mulch as she says the wood chips pull nitrogen from the soil around plants.

I do make compost from leaves 2 year old stuff, and top dress with that then "mulch" over that - happy wife happy life.

I have a continuous though limited supply of hemlock bark. At the moment, I am quite flush in the stuff, with logs yet to skin.

It takes little effort to send the hunks through the shredder flails. My wife loves the stuff!