What it is
A 2-cubic-foot bag of color-enhanced black mulch. Recycled hardwood ground and treated with iron-oxide pigment. The color is locked in — won't bleed onto a driveway or sidewalk in a hard rain, holds tone for a full DFW season.
When to use black
Black mulch pairs with:
- Modern hardscape — concrete pavers, smooth-cut limestone, contemporary house lines. Black mulch reads sharp against light stone.
- Light-leaf plantings — silvery foliage, ornamental grasses, pale-flower perennials. Black sets them off.
- Around pools and pool decks — black mulch hides chlorine bleach drips that show on traditional brown mulch.
Where black mulch fights you:
- Under leafy oaks and big crepe myrtles where fall leaf-drop is heavy — the black goes brown under leaf litter and you have to rake constantly to keep the look.
- Against red-brick houses (the contrast is too stark for most tastes).
How much do I need
14 bags per cubic yard. At 3" depth:
| Bed size | Bags needed |
|---|---|
| 32 sq ft (4x8 bed) | 4 |
| 100 sq ft | 14 |
| 200 sq ft | 28 — at this size, bulk yard pricing is much cheaper |
How color-enhanced behaves over time
Iron-oxide pigment doesn't wash out. UV fades the color. In full DFW sun, expect:
- 0-3 months: sharp black
- 3-6 months: dark brown-black
- 6-12 months: medium brown
Plan a partial top-dress next spring (just enough fresh mulch to cover the faded surface). Color refreshes immediately.
Buying tips
- The pigment won't stain your driveway or sidewalk from rain runoff — that's a feature of the iron-oxide system.
- It can stain hands and clothes during install. Wear old gloves.
- For new bed installs, fabric underneath is even more important with color-enhanced — weed pull-throughs ruin the uniform look.
Pickup or delivery
Bagged is pickup any time we're open. Bagged-with-bulk delivery is free; bagged-only delivery has a small fee.