- Use fresh cedar as chipped wood or sawdust, as a mulch layer in the landscape. Cedar naturally has oils that repel insects, making it a common choice of wood for outdoor furniture and structures. The same oils in fresh cedar mulch deter insects in the landscape, according to the Michigan State University web page. The aromatic oils can help to keep flies, flees, ants and termites out of the garden areas.
- The fragrant oils in fresh cedar mulch do not harm plants, according to the Washington State University Master Gardener Program. The chemicals, called allelopathic chemicals, do not affect established plants, shrubs and landscape trees. Any mulch layer helps to control weeds by smothering seeds before they have a chance to germinate. Spread cedar mulch around established plants in spring before weeds begin to grow. Organic mulch, like cedar, breaks down during the season, gradually improving the soil around it.
- Cedar mulch cuts down on the amount of water needed by slowing moisture evaporation from the soil so the earth around your plants stays damp longer. Mulch regulates soil temperature and insulates the soil, keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Fresh cedar mulch gradually fades to a silvery-gray color. Replenish mulch once a year as it breaks down.
- Spread fresh cedar mulch in the spring after the ground thaws or in fall before the first hard frost. Apply a layer 4 to 6 inches deep. As you replenish the material each year, add only enough to bring the layer up to 4 to 6 inches, as not all the mulch breaks down in a single season. Create a space around the trunks of trees, shrubs and plants 2 to 6 inches wide free of mulch. A thick layer of mulch pressed against the bark invites rot and disease.
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