Fig trees are a delight to grow, but it can be challenging to find the best mulch for fig trees. There are many types of mulches to choose from and each has its own benefits.
For example, bark chips provide excellent insulation and help retain soil moisture while shredded leaves and straw decompose quickly and add valuable nutrients back into the soil.
In this article, we will explore some of the best mulch for fig trees so you can choose what’s best for your landscape.
Best Mulch for Fig Trees
| Image | Name | Rating | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Longleaf Pine Straw – Mulch – Colored Black – 5 Bags per Box |  | |
 | Earthgro Black Mulch | | |
 | Jolly Gardener Natural Hardwood Mulch | | |
 | Envelor Coco Coir Plant Cover Mulch Mat Tree Trunk Protector | | |
 | Agfabric Plant Covers Winter Tree Jacket for Freeze Frost Protection | |
Best Mulch for Fig Trees
Longleaf Pine Straw – Mulch – Colored Black – 5 Bags per Box
Colored, Longleaf Pine Straw (Buy Online) has a lot of benefits over other kinds of mulches, such as bark and wood chips. It provides nutrients to plants as they decompose, improves soil structure by adding organic matter, reduces weed growth, and helps retain moisture in the soil. However, there are several types of pine straws available on the market today that don’t live up to their claims since they lack longevity.
The best type of mulch for fig trees is colored black longleaf pine straw because it lasts longer than non-colored pine needles and looks fresh much longer than natural brown pine needles. And they will last without fading quickly from exposure to sunlight and UV rays which causes discoloration/bleaching out within weeks or months.
USA Pine Straw – Premium Pine Needle Mulch
USA Pine Straw Premium Pine Needle Mulch (Buy Online) is an all-natural, beautiful colored premium pine needle mulch that helps to suppress weeds while adding nutrients to the soil around your fig trees. These pine needles have been carefully selected from only the healthiest live pines which means you’ll get a consistent supply year after year with no worries about harmful chemicals leaching into your soil.
Longleaf Pine Straw Roll for Landscaping
Longleaf Pine Straw (Buy Online) is perfect for all types of landscaping projects. It’s great for gardens, flower beds, and even around trees. Not only does it add natural beauty to any landscape design, but it also protects plants from extreme temperatures and helps retain moisture in the soil so that they can grow faster and stronger than ever before. And because this colored longleaf pine straw lasts longer than non-colored varieties, you get more bang out of each bag. With less waste on top of better-looking results, this colored mulch is truly a win-win solution for protecting your fig trees and beautifying your yard.
Envelor Coco Coir Plant Cover Mulch Mat Tree Trunk Protector
Envelor Coco Coir Tree Rings (Buy Online) are made from natural coconut fiber woven into a strong fabric that will last for years without degrading in the soil. This weed control mat provides complete protection against weeds while allowing water, air and nutrients to reach your plant’s roots.
Envelor Tree Rings are perfect for growing figs in pots, garden beds, or directly in the ground. The lightweight material makes installation super convenient all you need to do is wrap it around the trunk of your fig tree – it’s as simple as that.
Seeding Straw with Tackifier
Seeding Straw with Tackifier (Buy Online) is an innovative mulch designed for all types of plants with shallow root systems including fig trees, fruit trees, shrubs, and perennials. Best of all straw can be easily spread over large areas without breaking your back or having any waste left over when you’re done. Each package contains enough mulch to cover 500 sq ft of planting area – more than twice what most brands offer
QuickStraw Natural Straw Seeding Cover
QuickStraw Natural Straw Mulch (Buy Online) is an all-natural mulch made from organic wheat straw that has been cut into smaller pieces for faster decomposition and easier application over larger areas. These straw pieces have also been treated with tackifiers so they won’t blow around or get washed away in intense summer storms.
CleanStraw Natural Pure Wheat Cover Mulch
CleanStraw Natural Pure Wheat Cover Mulch (Buy Online) prevents erosion by adding organic matter back into your soil while protecting it from rain and snowmelt. This mulch cover also helps with weed control, improves the structure of your soil for better drainage, reduces compaction caused by foot traffic, and moderates temperature fluctuations.
Fig Tree Bark Mulch
Earthgro Black Mulch
Earthgro Black Mulch (Buy Online) is the best mulch for fig trees because it helps conserve soil moisture. It also prevents weeds from growing in your garden beds while helping beautify landscapes with its shredded wood composition that looks great as well as conserving water, nutrients, and nutrients needed by plants. This black mulch comes in three colors – brown, red, or black – so you can choose which one works best with your landscape design needs.
Jolly Gardener Natural Hardwood Mulch
Jolly Gardener’s Natural Hardwood Mulch (Buy Online) is the best mulch for fig trees because it naturally holds water while keeping down weeds. It’s made from hardwoods that have been aged so their rich brown color blends well into most landscapes and gardens. Plus, this natural mulch has no added chemicals or fertilizers so it’s safe for kids and pets when used as directed.
Pro Choice Red Wood Fiber Mulch
Pro Choice Red Wood Fiber Mulch (Buy Online) is made from 100% recycled wood fiber that has been dyed red with natural colorants so it looks like real redwood mulch. This product will keep weeds from sprouting around your fig trees while also adding a pop of color to your landscape.
Fig Tree Frost Protection
Agfabric Plant Covers Sun Protection with Zipper 1.5oz 84”x84”Shrub Cover Winter Tree Jacket for Freeze Frost Protection & Season Extension
Agfabric Plant Covers (Buy Online) are made from 100% spun polypropylene fabric which has a lightweight and soft feel, yet it’s strong enough to withstand even the strongest winds while still allowing air and moisture through so they won’t suffocate your plants.
Plus, these Frost Resistant Covers come in different sizes, so you can find one that fits over any size plant. They’re easy to put on as well – just open the zipper at the bottom then drape them over your young fig tree to protect them from an unexpected freeze.
Plant Covers Frost Protection Bag Large Size Winter Drawstring Plant Covers
Sopco Plant Covers (Buy Online) are designed for protecting your vegetation from frost, which is one of the most common threats to fig trees in colder areas. Each cover is made out of thick polyethylene material with an anti-UV coating that keeps moisture inside and reflects heat back at night while keeping light away during the daytime. These covers will help you keep your plants healthy over the winter so they could grow strong again next spring.
What is the Best Mulch for Fig Trees?
Fig trees are a deciduous species of tree that can be grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zones 7a through 11b, and the best mulch for fig trees is different depending on where you live.
In areas with a moderate climate, like Zone 8, bark mulch makes a great mulch for fig trees because it retains moisture and prevents weeds from growing near your fig trees roots. Areas with wetter climates should use straw as their best mulch for fig trees to prevent root rot and fungal diseases from developing.
In hot wet climates like Zone 9b, sand or gravel is the best mulch for fig trees because they allow air to flow around the roots and without retaining excess moisture which could lead to insect and disease problems.
What Kind of Mulch is Good for Fig Trees
Bark Mulch
Bark Mulch is excellent for fig trees because it retains water and provides a good environment for the roots of the tree to take hold. It also prevents weed growth, but make sure you apply it loosely so as not to compact the soil around your tree’s roots.
Pine Needles
Pine needles are a great natural mulch for fig trees. They provide the right level of nutrients and water retention that will keep your fig trees healthy while keeping the area around their trunk weed-free.
Note: Fresh pine needles can be worse than not using mulch because they can create an acidic soil environment which can harm your plants. If you have fresh pine needles laying around it’s best to wait until the needles have aged before using them around your trees.
Straw Mulch
Straw mulch is good for younger fig trees. For very young plants, straw helps keep the soil moist and it releases nutrients as it decays which will help feed a young fig tree’s root system. Plus straw mulch also encourages microbial activity while also naturally suppressing weeds.
Gravel
Gravel is a good choice for areas with rampant termite populations as well as high rainfall and groundwater levels. This type of mulch provides excellent drainage, so water won’t build up around the base of your trees and other plants.
Should You Mulch Fig Trees?
Yes, in most areas you should apply a 3 to 6-inch layer of mulch to your fig trees. The mulch should be applied around the tree’s drip line–usually, that means at least 6-8 inches from the trunk of the tree and not touching it.
Mulching is usually done annually in March or April and is an important step for growing figs because it helps control weeds, preserves moisture in dry spells, keeps roots cooler, and improves the overall condition of the soil.
