Yes — hemlock mulch is natural and undyed, and it is fine around vegetable gardens. It comes from the bark of the hemlock tree, a New England conifer with no relation to the poisonous hemlock plant, and there are no colorants involved. The mulch to keep away from edibles is the color-enhanced kind — we do not recommend dyed black mulch in direct contact with food crops.
Use hemlock at 2–3 inches on garden paths and around beds to hold moisture and knock down weeds, pulled back a few inches from plant stems so crowns can breathe. Expect the classic reddish-brown to mellow toward gray over a 10–12 month life, which is normal for any natural bark.
See Hemlock Mulch — delivered loose by the cubic yard, up to 10 yards per truckload.
