Lawn & Garden Mulch

Report Overview

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This report covers the US market for packaged lawn and garden mulch, which includes mulch and other ground coverings used in the maintenance of turf, gardens, borders, and other outside areas. Service revenues, bulk items, agricultural products, equipment, growing media (soil and soil amendments), and landscaping fabric are excluded from the scope of this study.

Products include:

• conventional wood mulch
• colored wood mulch
• rubber mulch
• plastic film mulch
• aggregate stone (also referred to as mulch stone)
• cocoa beans
• crushed brick

Markets include:

• residential
• golf courses
• government and institutional
• commercial and industrial
• commercial nurseries and garden centers, and other markets such as sod farms, cemeteries, and turf areas in privately owned sports venues

Demand by product, market, and end user (consumer/DIY and professional/DIFM) is shown at the manufacturers’ level. Historical data (2009, 2014, and 2019) and forecasts for 2024 and 2029 are provided for lawn and garden growing media in current dollars.

Data from the US Census Department were consulted in the preparation of this study and a list of related codes is presented here for informational purposes. However, these codes may not include all products covered in this report or may exclude some products of interest and the data have thus been adjusted accordingly.

Demand for packaged mulch and other ground coverings used in lawn and garden applications is projected to rise 3.0% per year to $760 million in 2024. Gains will be supported by:

• an increase in DIY gardening in the consumer segment, which is more likely to utilize packaged mulch over bulk
• the positive impacts of sufficient mulch use, including improved soil moisture retention and weed suppression

COVID-19 Pandemic Contributing to Rising Interest in Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces

Consumer participation in DIY landscaping and gardening activities increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were spending much more time at home and when attractive, comfortable outdoor living spaces were emphasized for safer socialization. Many newly landscaped areas will require at least partial reapplication of mulch on an annual basis; these smaller volumes of mulch will create good opportunities for packaged products.

Because many consumers are interested in improving the attractiveness of their yards, higher priced mulches such as colored bark and gravel will provide good growth opportunities, boosting demand in dollar terms.

Sustainability an Important Factor in Supporting Mulch Demand

Mulch is increasingly seen as a way to improve the sustainability and reduce the maintenance required for healthy landscaping. Because mulch can be critical for factors such as moisture retention, weed suppression, soil temperature regulation, and erosion control, users are being more careful about maintaining an even layer of mulch in garden beds. Because mulch reapplication tends to require smaller volumes than the installation of new mulched beds, packaged products are often favored in these applications.

Minimalist landscaping, including xeriscaping, is also expected to increase in popularity among gardeners seeking to reduce their environmental footprint. Mulches and other ground coverings are often critical in these types of landscapes, both for functional and aesthetic purposes.

Competition from Bulk Mulch Will Continue to Restrain Volume Growth

Despite the convenience of packaged mulch, bulk mulch will continue to account for the majority of mulch demand in volume terms. Professional users tend to require much larger volumes of mulch and other ground coverings than do consumers, so the price savings offered by bulk mulch will allow it to retain much of its market share.