those bags of bark they sell....you know the "red" back that is supposed to be so attractive...
are the colorings in the bark bad for your garden generally?....I'm trying to be more organic as I go along....
Iron Oxide is what is used to dye the mulches different colors. It’s not toxic to people or plants.
That said, I usually buy mulch without any dyes. Dyed mulch is more expensive and they don’t contribute anything to the soil as they break down anyway, so why pay for it, other than it matches your house color or something.
My favorite mulch to use is Cypress because I can easily lift it and lug it around and it covers well. :)
And then, of course, you have those screaming that I’m destroying the Everglades if I use Cypress, but these are the same people that are anti-peat because they think we’re destroying the peat bogs in Canada. *SHRUG*
Believe me, I’ve heard EVERY complaint about EVERY product I had to sell from one side of the fence or the other. *ROLLEYES*
You know what? Do what you want. It’s a free country, LOL! Don’t like using peat? Don’t buy it! Don’t like colored mulch or using Cypress? Don’t use it! Want to recycle? Fine! Do it! Think recycling is a scam? Then don’t bother! Don’t want to compost because you’re afraid you’ll attract vermin? Don’t compost, then! But don’t complain about MY compost pile! ;)
All said with a huge SMILE, of course! :)
P.S. And the pros and cons of whether to use wood chip mulch for Vegetable gardens brings some people to fisticuffs, LOL!