Scotts Vs. Vigoro Mulch: In-depth Differences And Features | Ralph's Way (2025)

Are you baffled between Scotts and Vigoro Mulch for your garden?

If so, you are in the right place. Here I’ll show comprehensive differences between the two to understand which one will be better for your garden.

At a 3-inch depth, 1 bag of Scotts mulch can cover 6 square feet, whereas 1 bag of Vigoro Mulch can cover 8 square feet. Many other differences make these mulches different from each other.

Knowing them will help you determine which works best for you. So, rather than wasting any more time, let’s begin.

A Quick Comparison Table

Here is a quick comparison table between Scotts mulch and Vigoro mulch:

AspectsScotts MulchVigoro Mulch
Product TypeSpecial For Moisture RetentionSpecial For Color Retention
Special FeatureComes With ColorGuard TechnologyRevitalize The Landscape
BenefitsOffers More BenefitsOffers Fewer Benefits
ApplicationEasy ApplicationEasy Application
Coverage6 Sq. Ft. Per 1 Bag8 Sq. Ft. Per 1 Bag
AvailabilityEasily AvailableLess Available
PriceAround $42Around $3.33

In-Depth Comparisons Between Scotts And Vigoro Mulch

You have drawn some basic knowledge about the mulches. But you need more information to pick up the right product.

So, here are some key differences between these two mulches:

  • Product Type
Scotts Vs. Vigoro Mulch: In-depth Differences And Features | Ralph's Way (1)

Scotts mulches can make your landscape beautiful and take care of it simultaneously.

Mulch’s main purpose is to help the soil retain moisture and prevent weed; Scotts mulches do those quite well. With ColorGuard technology, these mulches will never fade with time.

On the other hand, Vigoro offers premium quality mulches that effectively enhance the beauty of a landscape and protect it from weeds.

Besides, you will get a natural and complete look at your landscape.

It will create a protective barrier around your plants and over the soil to stabilize moisture and protects plants from drying.

  • Key Features

Both Scotts and Vigoro mulches have many features that make them excellent products. Let’s see what you will get from these mulches.

Scotts mulches offer a very vibrant color that makes your landscape look beautiful. Its ColorGuard technology helps mulches to retain color for years.

A 3 inches layer prevents weeds naturally by blocking their growth. Your soil can preserve moisture with the help of Scotts mulches.

On the contrary, Vigoro mulches are available in many colors. With its premium quality mulches, Vigoro mulches can revitalize the landscape of your garden or lawn.

Assorted color, no wonder your landscape will look superb. Apply water after 24 hours to your colored mulches and see long-lasting color results.

  • Benefits

Along with superior features come a handful of benefits. Since both the mulches are excellent, you can expect many benefits. Let’s try and dig out some.

One of the essential benefits of Scotts is its color retention ability and protection power. Because of the ColorGuard Technology, you will get excellent landscape color for a year long.

Not only this, when applied to a 3 inches layer, it will effectively protect your landscape from unnecessary weeds by blocking sunlight and their natural growth eventually. Besides, your soil can retain moisture and use it when needed because of Scotts mulches.

In contrast to Scotts, Vigoro mulches come in various colors. Some mulches come shredded, and they offer your landscape a beautiful look.

It also helps preserve soil moisture and prevent weed germination simultaneously. As a result, your soil remains hydrated, and weeds cannot grow.

  • Applications

You will have to apply Scotts mulches around your trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables. You cannot use it near your house foundation or wooden surfaces. Avoid using this mulch before seeds germinate and around under-developed plants.

Applying Vigoro mulch is also easy as Scotts’. You cannot apply it near your house and on any wooden surface. Plus, do not use it around any growing plants. You have to apply it over soil and around plants. Make sure to apply it in the correct quantity.

  • Coverage
Scotts Vs. Vigoro Mulch: In-depth Differences And Features | Ralph's Way (2)

Coverage is a crucial feature of a mulch. The more one bag of much can cover, the less money you will have to spend on it. So, it is related to your cost.

One bag of Scotts Mulch can cover 6 square feet of land, and with 6 bags, you can cover 36 square feet of land.

On the contrary, you can cover 8 square feet with one bag of Vigoro mulch, and with 6 bags, you can cover 48 square feet.

So, Vigoro mulches can cover more areas than Scotts. But remember, both mulches have to apply at 3 inches deep.

  • Price

Price is another vital aspect of a product. A lot of people seriously consider price before buying a price. That’s why you must know the price of these mulches.

You will have to spend around $52 for a 2 Cu Ft Scotts Nature Scapes mulch. On the other hand, a 2 Cu Ft Vigoro Bagged Brown mulch will cost you $3.33.

As you can see, Scotts mulch is quite expensive compared to Vigoro mulches.

  • Availability

In order to buy any of the two mulches, first, you must know where to buy them. You can buy Scotts mulches in supermarkets, fertilizer stores, and other stores near your home.

Besides, you can also buy them in various online stores, including Amazon, Lowes, Home Depot, etc.

Conversely, Vigoro mulches are not as available as Scotts’. However, they are available in fertilizer stores, supermarkets, etc.

On top of that, they are mostly available in Home Depot. If you visit the Vigoro website, you’ll be redirected to the Home Depot website.

Which Mulch Is Better For You?

According to my above discussion, there is no clear winner here. So it can be challenging to choose one.

But if you ask my suggestion, I think you should go with Scotts mulch to be on the safe side.

Scotts mulches are well known for the color enhancement of the landscape. They are also famous for their water retention capability and adequate protection against weeds.

It will cost you more money than Vigoro, but you know you are getting something that will yield results.

Also Read: Differences Between Jonathan Green And Scotts Lawn Food.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

Which is better Scotts EarthGro or Vigoro mulch?

Scotts Earthgro is a 1.5 cu ft. brown mulch. It comes with Scotts Color Advantage feature and retains color for a year. Scotts Earthgro is better than Vigoro in terms of quality and performance.

Is Scotts mulch better?

Scotts mulch is better than Vigoro mulches in many ways. It has a better moisture retention capability and directly prevents weeds from growing. With ColorGuard Technology, Scotts mulch offers deeper and better colors.

Is Vigoro good mulch?

Vigoro is a pretty good mulch with moderate moisture retention and weed protection ability. Besides, it offers good color retention to landscapes.

What is Scotts mulch made from?

Scotts mulch is made of natural products. The manufacturer uses natural elements from forests to make mulch. That’s why they are very effective.

Final Thoughts

With the right mulch, you can make your lawn’s landscape beautiful. Now that you know the differences between Scotts vs. Vigoro mulch, it’s easier for you to pick the right mulch.

You won’t regret it if you take my suggestion and use Scotts mulch. It is superior in quality to Vigoro. What do you think? Let me know in the comment section.

Scotts Vs. Vigoro Mulch: In-depth Differences And Features | Ralph's Way (2025)

FAQs

What type of mulch lasts the longest? ›

Which mulch lasts the longest? Stone is the longest-lasting mulch, followed by landscape fabric. Black plastic and rubber mulch last a long time, and help with both heat and water retention in the soil, though they're also more expensive than stone or landscape fabric.

Does Scotts mulch break down? ›

Wood mulches, like those available from Scotts®, and mulches made from other organic materials improve the soil as they break down. Microbes and insects in the soil naturally consume the mulch over time, adding the by-products back to the soil in the form of organic matter..

Is there a difference between black and brown mulch? ›

The MSDS for Mulch Magic indicates the black contains carbon black, red contains iron oxide, and brown contains diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (as well as carbon black and iron oxide). The composition beyond that (carriers, surfactants, etc.), was not noted.

What is the disadvantage of mulching? ›

Although using mulch has many benefits, it can also be detrimental to the garden in mainly three ways: Over-mulching can bury and suffocate plants. Mulch provides a convenient hiding place for pests. Bake your plants with excess heat if done incorrectly.

What mulch do most landscapers use? ›

Wood chips and bark are the most common types of mulch, but you can even use stones to good effect. In most cases, mulch greatly simplifies your gardening chores. Mulch includes a variety of materials that you use to cover the bare soil in your gardens.

How many inches of mulch is best? ›

Knowing how much mulch to use can be tricky. A 1-inch to 2-inch layer of fine mulch should be sufficient, while a coarser material should be 3 to 4 inches deep. Too much of either type can suffocate your plants. In areas where you simply want to keep anything from growing, you can lay it on as thick as you like.

Does Scott's mulch attract termites? ›

The answer is pretty straightforward – mulch does not cause termites.

Should you wet mulch after you put it down? ›

Mulch can kill whole trees if it's packed in excess quantities against a tree's trunk – a practice known as “volcano mulching”. Water after applying mulch. Smooth the mulch, then soak the beds to settle it in.

Can you put too much mulch down? ›

While mulch is very beneficial for the plants to thrive in our gardens, too much will have a detrimental effect on the plants. Excessive mulch can suffocate the plant roots which inhibits their ability to “breath”.

What is the nicest color of mulch? ›

Brown mulch is a nice touch to any lawn and garden, and its natural color makes both light and darker-colored plants appear vibrant when paired together. This color mulch works well in small areas, but tends to lose its beautiful color after just one season.

Why not use black mulch? ›

Instead, dyed mulches, especially those midnight-black styles, leach dye and possible CCA contaminants into the soil, killing beneficial bacteria. It kills off beneficial insects and earthworms, too. The dye runs off the piles after a simple rain. It's doing that in landscape beds, too!

How to tell if mulch is bad? ›

The best way to identify bad mulch is to smell it. Soil enrichment spreads should not smell like rotting eggs, vinegar, or silage. If your garden mulch has a pungent odor, do not use it.

How to prevent bugs in mulch? ›

Use a layer of landscaping fabric: Before applying your mulch, consider laying down a layer of landscaping fabric to prevent pests from burrowing underneath. This is especially important if you're installing new landscape beds, as it will make it more difficult for pests to establish themselves.

Does mulch attract termites? ›

While the material itself does not draw termites to the area, mulch spread over three inches deep creates an inviting habitat for the pests. Layers of organic matter trap heat and moisture next to the ground. Termites use this thick mulch as shelter from harsh weather. Some kinds of mulch may even repel termites.

What is the best mulch that won't wash away? ›

Bark mulch is made from woods such as cedar and pine and has a medium consistency. Bark mulch interlocks so it won't wash away. It's ideal for gardens on a slope or walkways. It decomposes into the soil, enriching your garden's health over time.

What type of mulch does not fade? ›

If you prefer an inorganic type of mulch, consider river rocks, pea gravel, pebbles, or lava rocks. These "mulches" keep their color longer and will not decompose like wood mulches so you don't need to replace them as often.

What is the best mulch to stop weeds? ›

Woodchips. Not only great for mulch but also make an attractive feature in your garden. Putting down a 4–6cm layer provides good weed control.

Should you remove mulch every year? ›

Your mulch can last for two or three years if properly applied. However, we always want to avoid a mulch layer that's too thick, so we recommend checking the depth of your existing mulch and removing some as you apply a fresh layer.

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