Does DIY Mulch Glue Work On Sloped Backyards?

Mulch glue can work miracles for keeping things in place and your yard clean. Wind, rain, and foot traffic can stir up carefully laid mulch and distribute it across a yard, but you can DIY mulch glue to help solve the problem; it works by sticking the mulch together so it stays in its intended area. Some people, though, need mulch glue to perform the tougher task of fighting gravity and securing mulch on a sloped landscape. So, can DIY mulch glue improve your sloped backyard? The answer seems to be yes, depending on your DIY recipe and the angle of the slope.

In a TikTok video, user carriebn19 shares a simple two-ingredient recipe for DIY mulch glue and demonstrates how it has worked for her. She thoroughly mixes two parts hot water with one part non-toxic white school glue in a large bucket using a whisk. She then pours her mixture into a sprayer and applies two coats to the mulch in her yard. After it has had some time to dry, she illustrates the difference between a patch she treated and one she did not. She also explains that the glue has successfully prevented mulch from moving onto her driveway and walkways and from being washed down sloped areas into the grass when it rains.

Commercial mulch glues are designed to effectively keep mulch in one place, even on slopes. While homemade glues are not exactly the same as commercial ones, DIY recipes like this one can achieve largely the same results as their store-bought counterparts. If you do decide to test a DIY glue, there are a few tips to keep in mind, especially when using it on a slope. First, make sure you have the best type of mulch for your garden. Some mulches, like shredded mulch, do better on slopes than others. Compared to bark nuggets, shredded mulch has more grip and is more likely to stay in place. Using the right mulch will improve your results when using mulch glue on a sloped yard.

Using commercial mulch glue application tips may also make your homemade glue more effective. It is recommended that you apply the glue in thin coats on a day when it will not be humid or rainy so that the glue has around 24 hours to completely dry. You can also add more coats to create a stronger hold. When the mulch loosens up, reapply the glue. If you follow all of these tips, it will increase the effectiveness of your DIY glue.

Although homemade mulch glue may be effective, it is not a permanent solution. The cost of purchasing gallons of glue can add up over time, especially if you have a lot of mulch landscaping in your yard. Also, circumstances like heavy storms can disturb mulch secured with even the toughest of glues. There are other fairly long-lasting DIY solutions, such as strategic planting and diverting water, that do not require as much maintenance and can be used in conjunction with or instead of DIY glue.

One of these methods is to place tactical yet decorative rocks and plants in the sloped area to help anchor the mulch and catch it before it slides too far down the hill. This is especially good for large areas that may be prohibitively expensive to cover in glue. You can also find ways to direct runoff water in your yard away from the mulch, like extending the length of your downspouts or employing shallow ditches around mulched areas to carry excess water away. Runoff water is one of the biggest causes of wandering mulch, so mitigating it can help keep your yard clear. You might even find that combining the methods of strategic planting, runoff paths, shredded mulch, and a DIY mulch glue gives you the best overall solution.