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momo
Cool Member
Posts: 91
Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:12 pm
Location: Santa Rosa, Ca

Cocoa Hull Mulch

Has anyone tried using this kind of mulch? I got some the other day and it looks nice and smells like chocolate, does anyone know of any downsides?

Thanks!

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Zofiava
Full Member
Posts: 59
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:11 am
Location: Pittsburgh

It will kill dogs if they eat it... to me that's a huge downside. Dogs are attracted to the scent.

cynthia_h
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 7500
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 7:02 pm
Location: El Cerrito, CA

There have been at least three threads here at THG (although not all that recent) about the threat cocoa-bean-hull mulch presents not only to dogs, but cats as well:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8045

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18194

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8019

Additional information is available at the ASPCA's Poison Control page: www.aspca.org and follow the links.

The makers of this mulch do NOT label their bags about the toxicity, and many dogs die EACH YEAR because of it. :cry:

I know there's a wonderful commercial composting facility up near you (and, of course, can't remember its name ATM). They're bound to have a safe soil amendment/mulch that would do what you need and not poison our four-legged friends.

I'll post here again if I remember the name...

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9



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