B&B Companies Home B&B Mulch Resources Glossary

Bark Mulch- The by-product of milled trees. It is often larger in size than wood chips.

Decomposition- The process of breaking down an organism into a more simple form.

Humus - Organic matter stabilized within the soil matrix.

Inorganic Mulch- Any inert material such as rock, shell, glass, or plastic used to protect soil.

Organic Mulch- Derived from plant materials. Ability to decompose over time.

Tilth - The health of the soil. Healthy soil is full of bugs, fungus, bacteria, air space, and humus.

Wood Chips- Can be made from any hardwood or softwood trees. Wood chips can be large and coarsely chopped or shredded and finely chopped.