Public Service Announcement:

Say NO to Cypress Mulch

The cutting of cypress forests for garden mulch is destroying vital wetlands that stabilize Louisiana's coast against hurricanes and provide vital migratory bird habitat.  We believe that gardeners must know the truth about cypress mulch, and will stop using cypress mulch when presented with the facts:

Cypress mulch is not as effective as other mulches. Only the ‘heartwood’ from mature cypress trees is rot and termite resistant. The young trees now being cut to feed the growing cypress mulch industry do not have these qualities. A University of Florida study confirmed that cypress mulch isn’t any better for your garden than pine bark harvested from commercial plantations, not critical coastal wetlands.

Much of Louisiana’s cypress mulch comes from illegal logging. Regulators turn a blind eye towards these activities, allowing loggers to continue destroying these forests without penalty. Yet 70-80% of the cypress wetland forests of Louisiana will never regenerate if cut, even if they are artificially replanted.

The cypress mulch industry destroys wetlands that protect coastal Louisiana. At a time when the nation must invest billions to restore Louisiana’s wetlands for hurricane protection, cypress forests are being ground into mulch. Cypress wetlands prevent flooding by absorbing excess water like a sponge, controlling flood height and speed. These wetlands save lives and prevent the destruction of coastal cities.

On Friday, April 14, Waterkeeper Alliance sponsored an advertisement in The New York Times encouraging consumers to say NO to cypress mulch. Please visit www.waterkeeper.org to see the ad and for more information on cypress mulch, including our fact sheet and links to additional resources.

Ecology and Gardening go hand in hand, yet many gardeners are unaware of the potential costs of the materials they use.  Fertilizers and the runoff damage they cause get a lot of press.  The depletion of peat bogs and cypress forests gets much less screen time.   

 

Posted in response to a polite request from

Bana Malik
Communications Associate
Waterkeeper Alliance
914.674.0622 x 213

Comments

[Judith]

Happy Earth Day to Jenn!

[jenn]

Mark adds, if you buy cypress mulch out of Florida, it is only required to be 10% cypress. So not only is a bad choice, but you aren't even getting what you are paying for!

[jenn]

Thanks, Judith!

[Bana Malik]

Thanks everyone who has used their power as concerned citizens to put an end to the mulching of our coastal wetlands.

EPA is still sitting on its hands with this issue, but we're making progress with the big retailers who are starting to hear the concern.