Hardwoods are not the only trees that find their ways into mulch products.  The softwood, pine, is used in pine bark, pine straw, and pine bark nuggets.  Pine bark mulch is similar to the hardwood mulches mentioned above.  It is a durable mulch, with the larger pieces lasting longer than the smaller ones.  Pine bark mulch decomposes into rich soil over the years, and is particularly appropriate to use in flower beds.

Pine straw mulch is actually the needles from pine trees that are raked up and baled to be sold.  It is less expensive than many other mulches, all natural, and easy to use.  It is very good for controlling erosion on a sloping area and does not wash away as some other mulches can.  It decomposes more quickly than pine bark, and has to be replaced frequently.  Pine straw is particularly appropriate to use around plants that love an acid soil, such as azaleas.

Pine bark nuggets are similar to pine bark mulch except in larger pieces.  This means that they will decompose more slowly than the smaller pieces, but they can also be washed away in a heavy rain.  Use them in level places to avoid this.  In general, wood product mulches should be used in a layer of 2-3 inches.  Any deeper than this, and they can become attractive to rodents.  To avoid any danger of termite damage, you can keep bark mulched beds away from the foundation of your home and use stone mulches there instead.