Does Bagged Mulch Expire?

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Bagged mulch is an excellent resource for your garden. But what happens if you buy too much. Will it go bad if you store it for too long?

Bagged mulch will expire as it will eventually decompose. There are a few ways to extend its lifespan. If you intend to use it within a few months, you can keep it in the bag and add a few air pockets. Take it out of the bag for longer storage and spread it out on a tarp.

If knowing how long the mulch will last, you’ll be able to get the maximum benefits for your garden. Keep reading to learn some of the ways that you can extend the effective lifespan of your bagged mulch.

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Will Your Bagged Mulch Expire?

All mulches will eventually decompose. When this happens, nutrient levels in the mulch will drop. This limits the benefits that your plants will receive.

It should be noted that, while the nutrient content will be lower, you should be able to revive it and use it in the garden. We’ll discuss how you can do this a little later.

What Affects the Mulch Expiry Date?

How fast the mulch expires will depend on what makes up the mix. Usually, bagged mulch will contain a high proportion of bark. This will take longer to decompose. As a result, it will be able to last for a long time. Because of this, you should be able to store this mulch for several months. As we’ll discuss later, there are some ways that you can extend the life of your bagged mulch even further.

Signs That Your Bagged Mulch Has Gone Bad

There are a few ways to tell whether bagged mulch is passed or used by date. Here are some of the things you should be looking for:

Mold. The dense material will hold the heat if you leave the mulch in the bag. Combine this with a humid environment, like a garage, and you might be at risk of growing white mold. The good news is that you will still be able to use the mulch in your garden, as the mold isn’t going to harm your plants. But it will be unsightly.

Insects. The heat of the mulch can provide an attractive place for insects to lay their eggs. If this is the case, you won’t be able to use the mulch in your garden, as you don’t want the insects to damage your plants.
Fungus. This will look like small black spots in the mulch, appearing similar to tar. The good news is that this will be harmless to your plants, so you can still use the mulch in the garden.
Unpleasant odor. Sometimes, the mulch will develop a sulphuric smell. This is a signal that should not be ignored. It tells you that the mulch has gone bad. If you apply this sour mulch to the garden, it can do a lot of damage. It might even kill your plants.

White mold is the most common issue when kept in a bag and in the garden. This video provides more information about what this looks like and how to remove it from your mulch.

It’s also important to consider the texture of the mulch. If it has broken down too much, it will resemble dirt. This is unlikely to do any good for your garden. As we’ll discuss later, there are some ways that you can use old or expired mulch, so it won’t go to waste.

Storing Bagged Mulch Properly

Over the short term, you shouldn’t have to take any special precautions. You just need to ensure that the mulch will be allowed to breathe. Look for air holes at the top. If they aren’t present, you can cut a few yourself. As long as you do this, the mixture should be able to spend a few months in the original bag.

If you plan to store the mulch for longer than a few months, you’ll need to ensure that you are creating the right conditions. Here are some storage tips you can use to extend the life of your mulch:

Spread the mulch out onto a tarp. Mulch can get quite hot. Because of this, you will need to spread it out a little rather than leaving it in a pile. You can then cover the mulch with a tarp. As long as you do this, it should be able to last for several months. You will need to turn the mulch pile occasionally, to stop the heat from building up.
Plastic container. Another option is to place the mulch into a plastic container. If you are doing this, you will need to remember to add some ventilation holes.

Finding the right storage location. If you are planning on using a tarp, it’s best to store the mulch in the backyard. This will give you enough space to spread everything out properly. If you want to store the mulch in a plastic container. You can place this in the garage. As long as the humidity is relatively dry and stable, you shouldn’t run into any problems.

When you decide you want to use the mulch, you might notice that small white mold strands are growing from the pile. As we mentioned earlier, this is nothing to worry about, and you’ll still be able to use the mulch in your garden.

Reviving Old Mulch

After several months of storage, your mulch will likely have seen better days. Even worse, you could have a lower nutritional load, meaning it will be less effective at encouraging plant growth.

The good news is that you can breathe new life into this mulch. You might want to try mixing it with a new mulch batch. This will help mix in more nutrients. It might also be a good idea to add some fertilizer.

At other times, you might be left with sour mulch. This can be fixed. You’ll need to spread the mold on a sunny day on a tarp. Then leave it for a few hours. The heat of the sun will kill any harmful bacteria. It should then be safe to use in your garden.

Uses for Expired Mulch

Eventually, the time will come to replace the mulch. Once it has the same consistency as dirt, it will be time to replace it. At this point, the mulch won’t be offering any benefits to the plants.

If you want to reuse the mulch, you can mix it into the soil when you are creating a new planting space. The thickness of the dirt will help boost water retention. Another option is to use them as a covering during the winter months. This will offer some protection against the cold weather.

If the mulch is too moldy to use in the garden, you might want to consider adding it to the compost pile. This will release the nutrients stored in the mulch to be released into the soil.

Summary

Bagged mulch will lose some of its nutrients if it’s kept in a bag for too long. Eventually, it will decompose. Though this is a slow process. The bigger risk is that fungus or insects will get into the bag and infect the mulch. If this happens, you won’t be able to use it in your garden.

When storing for a few months, you can place air holes into the bag so the mulch can breathe. Over a longer period, you’ll want to remove it from the bag and spread it out on a trap. If you do this, the mulch should be able to last for a few years.

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