Nuggets and chunky bark look great on flat beds, but on a bank they can tend to roll and wash downhill. For slopes, exposed sites and large areas you want a shredded, fibrous mulch that knits together into a mat. Daltons has three options, each with a different look.
The options compared
| Product |
Made from |
Look |
Best for |
| Mega Mulch |
Shredded NZ pine bark and bark fibres |
Natural, fibrous |
Slopes, garden beds, shrubs and trees; weed-free |
| Black Mulch |
Recycled untreated wood, colour-fast dye |
Modern, dark backdrop |
Contemporary gardens, multi-level beds, pot topper |
| Arbor Tree Mulch |
Arborist tree chippings |
Rustic, variable |
Large, natural areas on a budget (Auckland yards only) |
Daltons Mega Mulch
Mega Mulch combines finely shredded bark with bark fibres, so it binds together and stays put on banks and in windy spots. It's weed-free, holds moisture well through dry spells and keeps soil temperatures more even. It's our all-round choice for slopes, shelter belts, hedges and new plantings.
Daltons Black Mulch
Black Mulch gives a crisp, modern finish that makes foliage and flowers stand out. It mats together while still letting rain filter through, which helps prevent small washouts in terraced and multi-level gardens. It's made from 100% recycled untreated wood with colour-fast dyes and is safe for plants, children, pets and wildlife.
Tip: the dye can mark porous surfaces. When working next to concrete or pavers, lay a tarp down while you spread it.
Arbor Tree Mulch
Made from arborist chippings, Arbor Tree Mulch is the most economical option for big areas such as revegetation plantings, rural boundaries and large natural-style gardens. Because it's a chipped tree product, its make-up, look and age vary from load to load, and it isn't weed-free, so it's best for natural areas rather than formal beds. It's available from our Drury, Westgate, Mt Wellington and Silverdale yards only.
Mulching a slope
- Plant first. It's much easier to plant into bare soil, then mulch around plants.
- Weed thoroughly and water the area well.
- On steep banks, consider jute or coir matting pinned to the slope before mulching to help hold soil and mulch while plants establish.
- Start spreading from the bottom of the slope and work upwards, so each band is supported by the one below.
- Aim for about 100mm deep, keeping mulch clear of stems.
- Water lightly after spreading to help the fibres knit together.
How much do I need?
At 100mm, ½ m³ covers about 5 m². Measure slopes along the surface, not the flat footprint, as the surface area of a bank is larger than it looks from above. For really big jobs, our Bark Mulch, Black Mulch and Arbor Tree Mulch bulk packs are a tidy way to move mulch around a site.
Quick answers
Will mulch wash off a slope in heavy rain? Shredded mulches like Mega Mulch and Black Mulch knit together and hold far better than nuggets. Matting underneath helps on steep or freshly disturbed banks.
Is Black Mulch safe for pets? Yes. It's made from untreated recycled wood with colour-fast dyes.
Why isn't Arbor Tree Mulch weed-free? It's made from arborist chippings, which can include seeds. That's why it's best in natural areas rather than formal or vegetable beds.
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