I know you have to be careful with using cypress mulch as a substrate because it can have bugs, mites, and critters living in it.... That is why I have not yet used it so far.

I read several of you talking about baking it in an oven... 200 degrees for varying lengths of time... Until it is completely dried out. I considered doing this but it just seems like a major pain. it would be messy, take a lot of time, require lots of very expensive electricity, and of course it would completely dry out the mulch (humidity help and cost are the two reasons I want to use it.)

So, I have questions:

1.) Are the bugs the ONLY concern I should have if using normal landscape cypress mulch? Does it matter if they are chips or shredded? (I take the snakes out of their cage to feed them)

2.) I have a large deep freezer in the garage. It will easily hold a large bag of cypress mulch (and the stuff that is already in the freezer). If I were to put the whole bag in the freezer for a week, freezing it completely, wouldn't that kill any bugs, mites, critters that can be in it? (I know i would have to take it out and let it sit for a day or two to get back to room tempertature before use!) seems like this approach would be MUCH easier, and when done, I would still be moist, not all dried out like if it were baked. But will it kill everything that needs to be killed? Is there somehting negative that can happen that I'm not thinking of?

Thanks,

Mike