Safe Cypress Mulch Brand?

Hey all. Is this a safe brand to use for substrate? It says blend but is still 100% cypress mulch. I haven't tried getting non pet branded substrate before and I'm looking for alternatives.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/2-cu-ft-No-...-Mulch/4564626

It says that it's rated for playgrounds, so I'd use it, if I used cypress mulch. The important thing is no chemicals.

Cypress blend is not 100% cypress; the 100% is because it's wood mulch and it's a blend of different woods. A few years ago I called the company that produces it and asked about its overall composition. It is 10% cypress, 50% pine, and 40% "whatever we were cutting that day" which could potentially include cedar or black walnut from what I was told. It is not a consistent product and they maker absolutely did not recommend using it as animal bedding.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Cypress blend is not 100% cypress; the 100% is because it's wood mulch and it's a blend of different woods. A few years ago I called the company that produces it and asked about its overall composition. It is 10% cypress, 50% pine, and 40% "whatever we were cutting that day" which could potentially include cedar or black walnut from what I was told. It is not a consistent product and they maker absolutely did not recommend using it as animal bedding.

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Dang. I'm glad you called them. Thanks for the heads up. I'll look for something else.

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Originally Posted by Trinityblood

Hey all. Is this a safe brand to use for substrate? It says blend but is still 100% cypress mulch. I haven't tried getting non pet branded substrate before and I'm looking for alternatives.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/2-cu-ft-No-...-Mulch/4564626

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I wouldn't use it either- not only because "blend" can mean ANYTHING but also because there is a CA prop 65 warning that it contains potentially-carcinogenic "chemicals including silica"-:( It occurs to me that they might be grinding up trees damaged by wildfires, & they had chemicals dumped on them to fight fire? Or who knows what else?

No thanks...when they say it's "for landscaping" I'd take their word for it.

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Originally Posted by Spicey

It says that it's rated for playgrounds, so I'd use it, if I used cypress mulch. The important thing is no chemicals.

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Didn't you notice the CA prop 65 warning about chemical contaminants?

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Didn't you notice the CA prop 65 warning about chemical contaminants?

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I don't really know what that label means. Even when I google it it's vague and and almost everything has that label nowadays.

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Originally Posted by Trinityblood

I don't really know what that label means. Even when I google it it's vague and and almost everything has that label nowadays.

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It's vague on purpose- it's their way of acknowledging there's likely contamination but they're not specific so as to cover their tails; while it's okay for the purpose stated (garden use), they don't want to be responsible for whatever else might be in there. I just wouldn't take a chance on it for a snake. Plus the wood is not all cypress either- could be very irritating to snake lungs if pine/cedar/etc.

The Prop 65 label isn't that vague -- it specifically notes (as required by CA law, here) at least one of the chemicals/components that prompted the warning when you click on the link in the item description. The chemical in this product that prompted the warning is silica; perhaps they put some diatomaceous earth in the mix for wood mite control.

"It says that it's rated for playgrounds" -- the item at the link does not say this. Perhaps the certainly intentionally misleading "Approved" label on the front has something to do with the mistake.

I use a fair amount of bark mulch -- about 20 yards a year -- and I have found some questionable stuff blended in without looking hard at all. Mostly it is bits of plastic, but I have watched it being made (bark scraps from a pallet maker) and there is no limit to what could fall or jump into that grinder. Also, these products sit outdoors and are exposed to all sorts of yuck and critters.

I know opinions vary greatly on California's Prop 65 labeling but I for one, am GRATEFUL that there is scientific testing done to ensure products on the market are safe & healthy for use. Because without such ratings, you're at the mercy of those who would sell you anything at all, whether or not it harmed your health for life or even killed you. Many of you here are either too young or not fans of history, & don't realize that California is providing objective & essential health information about products, & that in the past much harm was done by bogus or dangerous products sold.

That's also why we have UL listed & certified products, & drugs regulated by the FDA. I'm 100% in favor of such regulations- without it many people & pets would be harmed, because some people will just sell anything for money, without caring about the consequences. Personally, I read ALL the fine print on things & make decisions accordingly. You don't have much of anything in life if you lose your health. ;) Same goes for our pets.

When I buy bagged soil for my garden, it doesn't take much looking to see bits of plastic & other extraneous materials in there. Depending on what the product is for, there are laws regulating the amount of extraneous material that any product is allowed to contain- yes, even food, & even tiny bits of insects are in chocolate, for example. The main thing is safety though, because it is obvious that absolute purity is either not feasible or would be prohibitively expensive. So yes, we live with some amounts of contamination where it does no harm.

But potential harm greatly depends on labeling what a given product is intended to be used for. What's allowed in garden mulch is much different that what is allowed in our food. Trust me, you don't want to munch on mulch...and it's best to protect your captive pets from as much as you can also, so they too live long & healthy lives. (And you have lower vet bills...) When a product label is vague & uses words like "blend" be very skeptical & cautious about what you use it for- it's safer to assume the worst.