Does Mulch Change Color?

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Mulch isn’t just soil coverage to protect your growing plants and stop weeds. It can also be a great statement decoration for your yard.

It’s a beautiful element that turns the landscape into something more vibrant. That said, it’s important to ask: does mulch change color?

Natural mulch does change color. Most mulches will turn gray within a year, with their color mostly fading to an even gray after two years. You can opt for a dyed mulch to combat this. Another option is to freshen up the mulch every few months with a new layer.

So, why does mulch change color? And how can you prevent the vibrant color from becoming a dull gray? Read on to find out!

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How Long Does Natural Mulch Retain Its Color?

Natural mulch can be made from a wide range of things. The most popular options for landscaping are:

Cypress (bark and wood)
Eucalyptus (bark and wood)
Melaleuca (bark and wood)

Pine bark and pine straw (needles)
Hardwood utility mulch (old construction wood, pallets, and utility poles)

Other types of mulches can also be made of organic material that decomposes into the soil, providing it with nutrients, much like compost. These are usually less decorative and more functional.

They can be made from:

Straw
Wood chips and sawdust

Chopped leaves and grass clippings
Paper

If you’re after a certain look for your yard, go for the types of mulches mentioned above. However, their natural bright hues of pink, brown, beige, or even reddish-brown can fade with exposure to the sun.

Also, areas that get a lot of rain will start graying and fading before others.

So, how fast do they usually fade? This depends on the type of wood chips and shavings used to make the mulch.

Here’s a table that demonstrates different color retention periods for each type of mulch from 0 to 24 months.

Mulch	3	6	9	12	18	24
Cypress	Pink	Reddish yellow	Pink	Light brown	Pink	Pinkish-gray
Eucalyptus	Light reddish-brown	Pinkish-gray	Pinkish-gray	Light gray	Pinkish-gray	Pinkish-gray
Melaleuca	Dark reddish-brown	Pinkish-gray	Pink	Light gray	Pink	Pinkish-gray
Pine Bark	Reddish-brown, Light brown	Dark reddish-brown	Reddish-brown	Brown	Reddish-brown	Dark reddish-gray
Pine Straw	Reddish-brown	Reddish-brown	Reddish gray	Light grayish-brown	Pinkish-gray	Pinkish-gray
Hardwood Utility	Olive, Very pale brown, Pink	Light reddish-brown	Pinkish-gray	Very pale brown	Pinkish-gray	Gray

As you can see, the colors change depending on what type you use as well as how long it sits out in the elements. It’s worth noting that the change is always quick, as there are a couple of things you can do to slow down the fading process, such as:

Frequently raking the mulch to reveal the bottom layer helps retain the color a lot more
Adding a thin layer of mulch every few months replenishes and revives the color

What Is Colored or Dyed Mulch?

Colored mulch is exactly what it sounds like: a mulch mixture dyed using vegetable-based pigments. These usually have a more vibrant, longer-lasting color and are used in landscaping.

Dyed mulches come in many different colors, with the most popular being:

Brown Mulch

This is a classic landscaping color that mimics the natural color of oxidized leaves. It comes in various shades and saturations, but ultimately, it has the natural look of a wood or leaf-based mulch.

The most significant advantage to using brown-colored mulch is that it retains its color much longer. While natural brown mulches fade into unsightly gray messes, the colored varieties remain a beautiful brown for longer.

Black Mulch

This is another popular option in landscaping since black is the color of the soil. Using black mulch gives the much-needed contrast that can make your plants and flower beds look stunning. It’s also used alongside rubber mulch in playgrounds and around trees.

Black dyed mulch also retains its color pretty well. Then, when it fades, it has either a brownish or reddish hue.

Red Mulch

Now this one is a landscaping statement for sure!

Red mulch is the most vibrant shade of colored mulches without looking too artificial. It’s meant to look like the more expensive, much less stable shredded redwood bark mulch.

This type of mulch is usually dyed with iron oxides. Although rust sounds unsafe, it’s completely natural and can exist in your garden’s ecosystem without disrupting it. It can also balance the soil’s pH as it disintegrates with time.

Are Colored Mulches Safe to Use Around Food Crops?

Many people are skeptical about the safety of colored mulches. They feel that anything colored might contain toxic chemicals that go against natural gardening. However, the dyes in colored mulches are the last things you need to worry about.

The more important aspect is the wood used to make the mulch. If the mulch is made from wood contaminated with industrial waste, the price will reflect it. That’s why it’s important not to skimp on the cost of the mulch you’re using, especially around food crops.

If you’d rather use a natural mulch and then dye it yourself, there are many options on the market. Just know that this isn’t cost-effective, especially for large yards that will require a heavy spritzing of the stuff.

Conclusion

Using mulch as a landscaping decoration can be a great addition to your yard. Besides its pretty colors, it also provides the soil and plants with many benefits. However, the decorative aspect still matters, so asking: “Does mulch change color?” is entirely valid.

Natural mulches made from tree bark and leaves change colors and fade to a grayish tone with time. This is a natural process that happens due to sun and rain exposure.

So, if you want your mulch to retain its color, rake it, add a new layer to it, or spray it with a mulch dye. You can also get pre-made colored mulches that retain their color for longer and keep your yard looking cheerful and bright!

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