Our Mulch Quality

Quality Standards Sell More Mulch

Not all mulches are created equal. P.R. Russell premium bark mulches are more consistent, have richer color and better texture, because we start with quality bark from northeastern forests. Retailers tell us that our mulches are preferred by discriminating gardeners throughout New England.

We’ve built state-of-the-art production facilities and an experienced crew around our industry-leading processing techniques. The fibrous texture of our bark mulch, rich in  smell and color, is ideal for gardens, where it provides a more favorable environment for roots, prevents erosion and enhances the contrast of plantings.

Our mulches moderate soil temperature and retain moisture, reducing the need to water. They mitigate splashing from rain or irrigation water, reducing the spread of disease, and block the germination of many weeds.  In time they will decompose and lend their nutrients to the soil.

Unique Coloration Process

P. R. Russell's red cedar and black mulches are made from northern white cedar and other softwoods, enhanced with environmentally friendly iron oxide or carbon black pigment. These are applied dry, in a process that adheres better than liquid colorants. Dry tinting adds less weight than liquid, reducing transportation costs and increasing shipment volumes. This coloration process also allows the natural scent to prevail without the sour smell associated with liquid-tinted mulches.

Environmentally Friendly

The raw materials for our mulches are recovered from wood manufacturing operations that do not use the bark. P.R. Russell is recovering and utilizing materials that, 20 years ago, would have been incinerated or dumped in a landfill. In addition, much of our raw materials come from Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified operations.

Tips for Colored Mulches

Rotate your pile, especially on sunny days. Mixing dryer material from the outside of the pile with moister mulch underneath will help the pigment fully bond to the wood. (You might inform your customers to do the same.) Cedar and hemlock compact more than other mulches during shipping, so remember to fluff them up.