What Is Cascade Cedar — And Why Do We Carry It?
Our cedar mulch is Cascade Cedar, also widely known as Gorilla Hair Mulch — and there’s a reason it’s our most popular mulch. It’s not your standard shredded wood mulch. Cascade Cedar goes through an extra shredding process that breaks it down into fine, hair-like fibers. Those fibers naturally weave together when laid down, forming a dense mat that locks in place — which makes it exceptionally well suited for Colorado’s high-wind conditions, slopes, and hillside beds where standard mulch would scatter or wash away.
What Makes Cedar Mulch Different
Cedar mulch has a set of natural properties that most other wood mulches simply don’t have. Its high concentration of natural oils and acids makes it resistant to rot and slow to decompose — typically lasting 2–4 years. As a natural, organic mulch, cedar breaks down over time and returns nutrients to the soil — without any synthetic additives or chemicals. That means fewer yards ordered over time and less labor refreshing your beds every season.
It also maintains its rich, natural color over time, naturally repels certain insects, and helps retain soil moisture — all things that matter when you’re landscaping in Colorado’s dry Front Range climate.
What Is Cedar Mulch Best Used For?
Bulk cedar mulch performs best around trees, shrubs, and perennial garden beds. It’s ideal for:
- Trees and shrubs — the dense mat it forms helps regulate soil temperature and retain moisture around root zones
- Perennial garden beds — long lasting and low maintenance, it won’t need replacing every season
- Slopes and hillside areas — the interlocking fibers resist wind and erosion better than any other mulch we carry
- High-wind areas — its mat-forming properties make it the most wind-resistant mulch option available
One note — cedar mulch is not recommended for annual vegetable beds. The slow decomposition rate and natural oils that make it so durable aren’t ideal for beds that get turned over seasonally.
Denver’s Most Popular Mulch — Since the Early 2000s
We’ve been serving Denver-area homeowners and landscapers since the early 2000s, and Cascade Cedar has been our top-selling mulch for as long as we can remember. Customers come back for it season after season — not because of the name, but because it performs. When you put it down once and it’s still looking good two years later, that’s the product doing its job.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cedar Mulch
How long does cedar mulch last in Colorado? Cedar mulch typically lasts 2–4 years, which makes it one of the longest-lasting organic mulch options available. Colorado’s dry climate actually works in its favor — the low humidity slows the decomposition process even further, meaning you’ll get more life out of it here than in wetter climates.
How much cedar mulch do I need? One cubic yard covers approximately 100 square feet at a 3-inch depth — which is the recommended depth for most garden beds and tree rings. Not sure how much that works out for your project? Use our materials calculator for a quick estimate.
Why is it called Gorilla Hair Mulch? The extra shredding process breaks the cedar bark down into fine, hair-like fibers — and when you see a pile of it, the name makes sense immediately. Those fibers are also what make it so effective at staying put in the wind and on slopes.
Is cedar mulch good for Colorado’s climate? Yes — it’s one of the best mulch options for the Front Range specifically. It handles wind better than any other mulch we carry, retains moisture in dry conditions, and its natural oils help it hold up through Colorado’s dramatic temperature swings.
Does cedar mulch change color over time? Cascade Cedar is a natural, undyed mulch — so it doesn’t fade the way colored or dyed mulches do. Over time it will naturally weather to a softer silver-brown, which many homeowners actually prefer. If you want to maintain the original rich color, a light top dressing every season will do it.
Can I use cedar mulch in my vegetable garden? Cedar mulch is an excellent choice around permanent plantings like trees, shrubs, and perennials — its natural oils and slow decomposition rate are exactly what those plants need. For annual vegetable beds that get turned over every season, we’d recommend a compost-based top dressing instead.
Bulk Cedar Mulch Delivery Throughout the Denver Metro
We deliver bulk cedar mulch by the yard throughout the Denver metro area, including Arvada, Lakewood, Westminster, Thornton, Superior, Broomfield, Erie, and Littleton. Whether you need a single yard for a garden bed refresh or several yards for a full property project, we’ll get it to you. Check our price list for current rates or use our materials calculator to figure out how much you need before you order. Ready to get started? Contact us here.