• Gardeners use many types of mulches in Alabama landscapes.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Mulch types available in northern Alabama provide many benefits to property owners. The Alabama Cooperative Extension cites moisture conservation, including erosion control, as the most important advantage of mulch, followed by controlling weeds. Moderating soil temperature and improving soil fertility and structure are other rewards gardeners reap from applying mulch. Finally, some mulch types add aesthetic value to the landscape.
  
  

Hay

• Hay is a major Alabama crop, with the top-producing counties all in the northern part of the state, according to the Alabama Farmers Federation. Some farmers produce much of their crop for hay mulch, which is particularly useful for erosion control, especially during construction.
  
  

Pine Bark

• Gardeners can reap the benefits of using mulches on container plantings as well as on the ground. An Auburn University study found that pinebark mini-nuggets, noted as widely available in Alabama, provided season-long weed control for container plantings. Pine bark mulches can be attractive throughout the landscape.
  
  

Recycled Leaves

• Northern Alabama homeowners have a free source of mulch in the form of autumn leaves. Alabama Cooperative Extension recommends recycling leaves for mulching shrubs and other plantings. Shredded leaves make uniform mulch that helps control weeds, soil temperatures and conserve moisture, according to Extension horticulturist Dr. Dave Williams.
  
  

Pine Needles

• Pine needles, or pine straw, like pine bark, adds aesthetic appeal to northern Alabama landscapes. Gardeners find pine needles useful not just for ornamentation, but also for mulching tomato plants, reports Danny L. Cain, Walker County Extension Coordinator, who recommends them for protecting tomato roots from the hot summer sun, as well as conserving soil moisture.
  
  

Glass

• The mulch of the future in northern Alabama may be recycled glass. As of 2010, a Huntsville business was hoping to begin creating glass mulch for landscape use. Available in the western United States, this mulch of pulverized, tumbled glass discards would be a new product for Alabama, according to Steve Doyle of the Huntsville Times.