# Will mulch bought now be good until next spring? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 1, 2017, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246 "2017-07-01T03:00:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mrdeals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/1 "2017-07-01T03:00:50Z")
It’s that time of year again in the closeout industry, truckload upon truckload of overstock mulch is looking for a home. I can scoop these loads up for a couple hundred dollars, but i wonder…if stored properly, will this mulch be fine come next spring? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/2 "2017-07-01T07:35:48Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/3 "2017-07-01T09:38:49Z")
Define ‘fine.’ ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/4 "2017-07-01T09:40:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Mulching is a process of inbred fertilization which employs certain decomposed organic materials-- including, but not limited to animal sediment-- to blanket an area in which vegetation is desired. The procedure enriches the soil for stimulated plant development while, at the same time, preventing erosion and decreasing the evaporation of moisture from the ground. Give mulch a few months and it will become even more mulchy. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/5 "2017-07-01T09:52:32Z")
Keep it well-moistened and turn it over with a fork every now and then. ---
**Author:** ![Mrdeals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/6 "2017-07-01T13:10:34Z")
I should have added, this mulch is in retail bags. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2017, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/7 "2017-07-01T14:18:12Z")
Weird - I don’t recall ever seeing Overstock Mulch sales. Bagged stuff that isn’t moist should be fine. Otherwise, it could break down some by next year (especially if it’s small pieces of whatever). ---
**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/8 "2017-07-02T01:43:56Z")
Keep the bags out of the rain and next year you are good to go. As **Darren Garrison** said, “it will become even more mulchy.” I do this every fall with closeout stuff. In my case I take it out of the bags or bales or whatever and pile it up in a spot out of the rain. Before the first frost I have an infinite amount for plant insulation. Winner! ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/9 "2017-07-02T03:15:40Z")
I left several bags of mulch out on the deck for a year and they were fine. It might have even been over a year. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2017, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/10 "2017-07-02T05:18:38Z")
It should be fine. It’s mostly tree bark anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/11 "2017-07-03T13:09:13Z")
It seems like I am missing something. This is the mulch you buy that you just leave outside for years after removing it from the bag? Does everyone re-mulch every year? Is that something I should be doing? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/12 "2017-07-03T22:41:37Z")
Everyone is doing it, we just decided not to tell you. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/13 "2017-07-03T23:06:11Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > It seems like I am missing something. This is the mulch you buy that you just leave outside for years after removing it from the bag? Does everyone re-mulch every year? Is that something I should be doing? People re-mulch every year in New England. That is how you can tell it is finally Spring. It gets scattered around and deteriorates during the Winter. I am surprised mulch season is truly over anywhere. I need several more bags to cover some light spots that I missed about a month ago. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-mulch-bought-now-be-good-until-next-spring/790246/14 "2017-07-04T15:49:40Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > Keep it well-moistened and turn it over with a fork every now and then. This. I hoarded mulch for this summer’s garden and let it dry out and shrink. I didn’t think to water it regularly. ☹