Best type of organic mulch to buy at local nurseries

[Nisp66]

I need some ideas of what mulch to buy. I am trying to mulch several fruit trees like Sapodilla, Mango cherimoyas, etc. I have been to HD and Lowes in Los Angeles area already but I most of what I find are those color treated or decorative ones. I am looking for some organic stuff that would help preserve moisture but not those that will leach the color paint into the ground. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[StPeteMango]

Does your city/county have a mulch program? Mine offers regular mulch for free (have to pay for delivery). They windrow plant material for several days to kill pathogens, but it good, rich stuff that breaks down easily and feeds plants. No chemicals from artificial colors.
Can also get ground or double-ground log mulch that is more decorative and costs more.
It is quite likely that your city/county has similar programs.

[Tropicaliste]

Look for Earthgro or the cheap brands ... they usually aren't colored, they're cheap too, but as for "organic", well, who knows if the pine tree was organically raised unless the brand followed the tree from the seed to mulch.

[starling1]

Bark mulches don't really do much for your soil, that's why all the pro's use lucerne straw when commercially farming. Bark mulches tend to make soil kind of gummy over time. I do use bark because it is cheap and I can't afford to mulch everything with lucerne (or pine straw) but if you can afford either of those, get them. Alternatively, it is worth spending money on regular pine bark chip as it is long lasting, and  helps acidify your soil.

[Viking Guy]

Plain cypress mulch is a very cheap and great mulch to use.

Can even get it cheaper at Wal-Mart.

Definitely don't bother with any of the dyed crap.

I dig Soil Conditioner into the top layer and then cover it all with cypress.  Holds moisture deep in the driest of times.

[starling1]

Plain cypress mulch is a very cheap and great mulch to use.

Can even get it cheaper at Wal-Mart.

Definitely don't bother with any of the dyed crap.

I dig Soil Conditioner into the top layer and then cover it all with cypress.  Holds moisture deep in the driest of times.

If the mulch is swamp cypress, please avoid using this as it really isn't sustainable and takes quite an ecological toll.

[Viking Guy]

Plain cypress mulch is a very cheap and great mulch to use.

Can even get it cheaper at Wal-Mart.

Definitely don't bother with any of the dyed crap.

I dig Soil Conditioner into the top layer and then cover it all with cypress.  Holds moisture deep in the driest of times.

If the mulch is swamp cypress, please avoid using this as it really isn't sustainable and takes quite an ecological toll.

This would be brand specific.  But I agree.  Do a quick google search for the company that bagged it, because there is a bit of debate on this matter.  Some produce their own, while others do not.

That said, the hands down best organic mulch I've seen used is Magnolia and Loquat leaves--as long as you can keep them from washing away.

[greenman62]

Mulberry leaves are very high in minerals
and the leaves breakdown very fast.
worms adore them almost as much as coffee grounds

comfrey, nettle  and  dandelion are the permaculture top 3 to use for compost.
i guess this is all homemade and a bit off-topic,
but to me, its better than any store-bought stuff.

[Nisp66]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will check with my city first to see if they have a mulch program. I have also seen Gro-Well garden bark which contains Ponderosa pine and Douglass fir bark at OSH. This may work for me I think.