Birds messing up your garden mulch? Why I’d think twice before reaching for the mulch glue

A soil scientist is warning against mulch glue—those spray-on adhesives designed to keep mulch tidy by preventing birds from foraging through it. Per The Conversation, the University of Melbourne's Gregory Moore cautions that while the product locks things down, it stops birds from aerating soil and adding nutrients through their natural foraging. Concerns also exist about the glue's long-term environmental impact, including potential plastic breakdown in waterways and possible interference with worms, fungi, and other organisms that maintain soil health. Moore suggests reserving mulch glue for specific cases like sloped gardens or for people with mobility limitations—otherwise, embracing some garden chaos is the better approach.

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