I like the largest pine bark nuggets. I have bought them from Betty's Azalea---I need to go there again----

Not sure if I am supposed to write from "out of the region," but I use fallen pine needles and any other organic garden "waste" available. And having a shredder is very helpful.

What about pine needles and pH levels? The linked article below changed my world with regard to mulching (myth #3).

https://extension.oregonstate....

Plants know no political boundaries, anyone is welcome to comment. I would absolutely LOVE to have a shredder! The closest I've come so far is using the paper shredder @ work. I have 5 boxes of shredded paper ready to use after frost.

purpleinopp said: Plants know no political boundaries, anyone is welcome to comment. I would absolutely LOVE to have a shredder! The closest I've come so far is using the paper shredder @ work. I have 5 boxes of shredded paper ready to use after frost.

I have recently use coconut coir. I do like it, although it takes a while to get it wet and expand. I prefer the color of the pine bark nugget--the biggest ones. They last a long time. I try to put about 3 inches...at least.

Forgot to write that I have been taking advantage of the free burned leaf mulch from the City's mulch pile each Spring. I have to fill my plastic buckets with them and put them in my station wagon. Unfortunately my station wagon just gave up on me on the 10th of February. 32 years old-

Long time to have a vehicle!!

Yes, I love my 240 wagon stickshift.....strong and no thief can open it if it is locked. When I bought it new, my mechanic said to not sell it. Only it was bad when it snows or icy, because it has a rear wheel drive. For that I love VW411----so nice. But bad for cargo, because cargo was in front and its motor was in back.

Driving without snow tires in winter bring self-inflicted misery.
I have driven a rear wheel drive my entire life and the above fixes any winter problems.
All Season tires , the term is BS in snow country.

I ignore the All Season tires as well. Worthless when you drive gravel every day. I need all terrain tires that can handle almost everything including snow. We don't get much snow here anymore so snow tires don't do me any good.

My favorite mulch is the type that I get for free. For as long as I can remember, I collect  mulch from any free sources available around the city and the suburbs: wood chips, horse manure with bedding, chicken manure and bedding, hay bales, compost. The last time I bought mulch for my garden was probably 36 years ago.