Hello,
I was about to put down cedar mulch, but then saw articles that are suggesting cedar mulch deters pollinators-bees. Is this true? If so, is there a better type of mulch to use to keep the moisture in around my plants in the garden and keep the critters and bugs around also?
Thank you
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners.
Any heavy mulch can block access to the ground for soil-nesting bees. An area of bare ground should be left in your garden to allow these bees to thrive.
I could find no research studies to prove that cedar mulch is, or is not, toxic to pollinators.
Leaf mulch or planting ground covers, so called living mulch, are mulches that I use in my garden.
For a detailed review of mulch alternatives, please consult Halton Master Gardeners’ detailed guide on mulching, Mulching Matters. https://haltonmastergardeners.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/mulch-matters-1.pdf