Best Overall
PetraMax Mulch Glue Max
Best Bang for the Buck
Shabebe Mulch Glue
Best for Pea Gravel
TTDMK Mulch Glue Concentrate
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If you ’ve never heard of mulch glue , you ’re not alone . This comparatively new product is designed to help various types of mulch keep from blow or floating aside . Some are even made to keep small pea gravel in place . We carefully researched more than 15 mulch glue intersection and then test seven in our own yard . In general , these products are exchangeable , but we did have a favorite — PetraMax Mulch Glue Max — because of its easy practical app and overall appearance .
Mulch glues are not a perfect solution for allmulch types , but when used as directed , they can aid protect the mulch in your flower bottom or landscape painting from going astray . in advance , learn more about these liquid adhesive merchandise and find out how the abide by ones garner a spot in this batting order of the good mulch glue .
How We Tested the Best Mulch Glues
When select the mulch glue spray product for testing , we primarily focalize on consumer ratings and reviews . The bounteous lawn and garden Cartesian product manufacturers , such asScotts Miracle - Gro , are not yet making mulch glues , so the brand was n’t a consideration for this test .
Once the mulch glues arrived , we started testing . All of these products are applied by spray them now on the mulch . Many need two or three coat to arrive at maximum protection . We follow the manufacturer ’s instructions for each one , noting how uniformly they went on and whether they changed the appearance of the mulch . When juiceless , we used a leafage blower and a sprinkler to mimic high wind and rain , which are common mulch - shift culprit .
We present points based on a rubric : The better a product performed on a tryout , the in high spirits the points . After examination , we averaged the points to determine the dear performing artist . We also rat each mulch gum based on simplicity of app , adhesiveness , appearing , and whether we felt it was a honorable value .
Our Top Picks
Six mulch glue products made our list of the best mulch glues , but each has pros and cons . Mulch mucilage are n’t perfect for all mulching situations , but they offer a degree of stabilisation depending on the mulch you ’re using . The travel along products fared well in our test , and one could be a safe option for your flower bed or landscaping .
Our Ratings : Application5/5 ; Adhesion3.5/5 ; Appearance4/5 ; Value3.5/5
Our top performing artist , PetraMax Mulch Glue Max , is a saturated liquid that must be adulterate with water at a ratio of 2 parts pee to 1 part PetraMax liquid . We mixed up a batch , pelt it into a sprayer , and then applied two coats to various mulch types , including hardwood chips , pea gravel , and lightweight sliced cedar .
We were proud of that the solvent did n’t noticeably change the flavour of the mulch , and it defy the shredded cedarwood and hardwood chips in place when we used a leaf electric fan . However , it did n’t hold quite as well on the pea gravel , as a few of the tiny pebbles blew away . Our sprinkler mental testing did n’t inconvenience the adhesive — it mystify to the mulches even after watering .
On the hardwood scrap and pea gravel , the mulch glue held up to our cats take the air over it , but it did n’t have enough intensity to have got the lightweight shredded cedarwood in place — their paw sunk through . The adhesive did n’t hold up to human beings walking , but it ’s not really designed for that . We tested over 3 calendar week , so we ca n’t assure the mulch mucilage will defy up longer than that , but we suspect it will . A flake of advice : Do n’t impart leftover result in the sprayer — it will harden and clot the spray nozzle .
Get the PetraMax mulch gum atAmazon , Walmart , orPetraTools .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Our Ratings : Application5/5 ; Adhesion3.5/5 ; Appearance4/5 ; Value3/5
shut away down the mulch in your flower bottom or landscape painting bed does n’t have to be a fortune . Shabebe ’s landscape adhesive toll less than competitive brands , and depending on the dilution rate , it can go a longsighted room . It can be used at full metier or diluted up to 10:1 ( water to product ) . We used a 2:1 dilution ratio , similar to the ratio of some of the other products we examine .
We applied two coating via our garden sprayer , letting the pelage dry out wholly in between and before essay for steer and water ohmic resistance .
Photo: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
When we tested its wind resistance , the Shabebe landscape painting gum hold the sliced cedar mulch well , but it was n’t quite secure enough to lock in down the hardwood chips or the pea crushed rock . We reapplied the product , this time spraying it on full strength , and the hold was much practiced , although it still could not withstand human groundwork traffic . It did n’t seem touch by irrigate at either strength .
We recommend diluting the product only if you go for it to lightweight mulch to protect them from wind price or pelting . For the right mulch stabilization on garden mulch , chips , or pea gravel , habituate full strength .
Get the Shabebe mulch glue atAmazon .
Our paygrade : Application5/5 ; Adhesion3.5/5 ; Appearance3/5 ; Value3/5
If you ’re wait for an adhesive to keep mulching rock’n’roll , pebbles , and pea plant crushed rock in position , correspond out TTDMK ’s mulch glue , which is made for all type of gravel . TTDMK should be diluted at a 1:1 proportion — we found this mulch glue for careen mixed well with H2O and was loose to apply with our garden sprayer . We used two coats , allowing the product to dry out totally between each coat .
We examine the mathematical product on wood chip , shredded cedar tree , and crushed rock . When the Sunday stumble the chips and true cedar , it gave those mulch type a glazed appearance that we did n’t find flattering — it looked a bit like plastic . On the rock , some shine was still evident , but it gave the rocks more of a tight look that did n’t detract from their ocular appealingness . It was quite skillful , in reality .
When we tested with the leaf blower , the TTDMK mulch glue for gravel seemed to guard the gravel in place well . It also stabilized the other twotypes of mulch , but due to the surplus effulgence , we favor it for the gravel . Likewise , watering did n’t seem to unnerve the product . It still wo n’t halt up to human foot dealings , but it could be used as pea gravel adhesive agent for humble pebbles used as filling between pavers on walkways as long the pavers are used for walk and not the pea plant crushed rock .
Get the TTDMK mulch glue atAmazon .
Best Ready-to-Use
Vuba Easihold Mulch and Rock Binder
Our rating : Application4.5/5 ; Adhesion3.8/5 ; Appearance4/5 ; Value3.5/5
If you do n’t have a garden sprayer and you ’re looking for mulch glue you may apply without having to buy anything else , correspond out Vuba Easihold . It ’s a melted mulch adhesive that comes in a nursing bottle with a initiation nebulizer that ’s included . With Easihold , there ’s no intermixture , no passel , and nothing to dampen out when you ’re done .
We tested it on three unlike type of mulch , and it did n’t take long before our hands became fatigued from using the initiation sprayer . We eventually pour the solution into a garden sprayer so we could apply it more quickly and uniformly .
Easihold offers mulch stableness that stay fresh the mulch from blowing away , and it also hold up well after watering . It performed well on the Grant Wood chips and shredded cedar , but it did n’t do as well on pea gravel , and we find that many little pebbles blew away when we tested with the leaf blower . Still , if you require to stabilize wood mulch in flower box or other limited spots , this is a good ready - to - manipulation product . Do n’t throw it as abarrier against weeds , however . We saw pile of weeds poke through during our tests .
Get the Vuba mulch glue atAmazon .
Best for Wood Chips
NorthRock Landscape Loc Mulch and Rock Bond
Our rating : Application5/5 ; Adhesion3.8/5 ; Appearance4/5 ; Value3.5/5
Wood chip are one of the most popular types of mulch due to their natural wood prayer and the fact that they biodegrade to add nutrients to soil . One of the best wood - cow dung mulch mucilage in our tests was NorthRock ’s landscape mulch , thanks to its ability to stabilize hardwood splintering in our tests without perceptibly changing their show .
This is a full - strength adhesive spray for mulch that does n’t call for diluting , so we filled our heart sprayer and applied two pelage to our various type of mulch . At first , we were a little concerned as the NorthRock liquid go bad on looking whitish ashen . However , it dried well-defined in a few hours , and the rude mulch look returned . It stick to the wood chips very well and brook up to blower and sprinkler tests . It also hold fast to the chopped cedar , but in our blower tests , the top layer go down on right on off as if it were a mantle . The product did n’t saturate evenly to the lower level of the cedar .
It stick to gravel to some extent , but we still found many loose pebble . This was our favourite selection for treat hardwood mulch chip , but it did n’t fare as well on the other types of mulch .
Get the NorthRock mulch glue atAmazon(5 gallon ) orMenards(2 congius ) .
Best Color-Enhancing
Black Diamond Coatings Dominator Mulch Anchor
Our military rating : Application5/5 ; Adhesion3.8/5 ; Appearance3.5/5 ; Value3/5
In our 3 - week testing period , the Dominator Mulch Anchor mulch mucilage — a Black Diamond Coatings product — didn’t show any signs of breaking down on any mulch type . More than that , this product in reality enhance the colour of our wood chips and shredded cedar tree , giving both a richer , deeper hue that did n’t fade , even after 4 uncoiled days of rain follow by bright cheerfulness .
This is another ready - to - use product that does not need diluting , so we filled our ticker nebuliser and start apply it to all three examination mulch type . Dominator Mulch Anchor did n’t leave a shiny look on the mulch ; it just kept it looking as fresh as when we ’d underprice it out of the bag . Will it keep the mulch looking that good all summertime ? We do n’t have a go at it since our test did n’t last that long , but the company claim it will last up to 2 years .
It did n’t change the visual aspect of our gravel mulch , but it did seem to maintain more of the pebble in place than some of the other products we test . We really like this one for role on extremely visible landscape bed because it keeps the mulch looking bracing while stabilizing it against wind and rain . This dominator product is also suitable as a rubber mulch glue , but as we did n’t test it on that case of mulch , we can not say how well glued synthetic rubber mulch withstands the ingredient .
Get the Black Diamond Coatings mulch glue atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orThe Home Depot .
ALSO TESTED
PetraMax SuperMax Mulch Glue
While one of PetraMax ’s products made our best overall pick , another , PetraMax SuperMax , did n’t make the cut . Maybe we got a bad batch , or the container go too hot or too cold somewhere along the way , but the SuperMax version did n’t seem to hold back the mulch in home .
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Mulch Glue
Mulch glues are the fresh kids on the block , so there are currently only a few options available , but those are increasing as more manufacturers start up put out their product formulations . This sprayer adhesive for mulch is design to help keep lightweight mulch from blowing or float aside , but it may not be the correct solution for all berth . Mulch glues are not rat as highly as other lawn and garden products , but some may be due to vendee not understanding the ware ’s limitation . moot the following factors before pick out a mulch glue for your efflorescence or landscape bed .
Type of Adhesive
Currently , mulch glue are broadly order , and maker do not have to name their component . However , our research leave us to believe that most products take some type of polymer adhesive . Many type of schooltime glue also contain polymers , such as polyvinyl acetate , that unthaw in water . Could you mix a bottle of school glue into a Imperial gallon of water and produce a mulch glue ? Maybe ; we just do n’t do it , but the feel of the liquids and the way they stick to the mulch cue us of watery school mucilage .
Ease of Application
most all mulch glues we found are applied via spraying . Some are concentrated and should be diluted with water supply before applying , while others are ready to utilise right out of the container . Some also fare with trigger sprayers , which can be handy , but we found it easier to pour the solutions into ticker sprayers to get a more uniform program . In most case , we launch it best to apply at least two coat of mulch glue for optimum protection .
Weather Resistance
Mulch glues are designed to jib being blow about in verbose condition or float off in sullen rains . We used a leaf blower to test for confidential information resistance and used a sprinkler to mimic rain , although we come plenty of literal rainwater during some test . In most display case , the mulch glues obligate strong throughout the tests , although it really did seem to depend on how well we applied the coatings .
Environmental Friendliness
FAQs
If you ’re concerned in more information about mulch glues , you ’re in right company — we are , too . As these products continue to impinge on the shelf , they will undoubtedly be fine-tune , and their formulations will improve . We ’ll be updating this guide as more information becomes usable . For now , here is a snatch more .
Mulch spray gum come along to be among the safest lawn and garden intersection around , although not all manufacturers number their ingredients . They do , however , claim they are nonpoisonous and will not harm plant , animals , or the environment .
In our test , some product dried in a couple of hours , while others took nearly a daylight to dry out .
Photo: amazon.com
No , because the gum does not form an impermeable surface . It adheres to the mulch but does not fill the cracks between bark , cow dung , or gravel . Unlikelandscape fabric , it does not protect against weeds .
Meet the Tester
Glenda Taylor is a product examiner and author specializing in the construction , remodeling , and real estate industries . She and her husband own a universal contracting company , and Taylor is experience in both residential and commercial construction applications . She tests a wide range of power tools as well as other home improvement , family , and lawn - and - garden product .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
We ’ll aid you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a lift bottom , or an in - ground plot out back — and take the right plants for your soil and region .
Photo: amazon.com
Photo: amazon.com
Photo: amazon.com
Photo: amazon.com
Photo: amazon.com
