All Mulch is not Created Equal

Now that you've cleaned up your garden, you are probably contemplating some mulch.  Keep this in mind as you price out mulch.   All Mulch is NOT created equal.  The dyed bark mulch is evil.  Sure the colors are pretty but did you know that dyed bark mulch is made from chipped wood palettes and that it will leach nitrogen from the soil?????  That's not what you want in your garden beds.  The same is true of freshly chipped trees in the 'free' mulch from tree trimming companies.  Let's face it, if the 'free' mulch were actually any good the tree trimmers wouldn't be pawning it off on the unsuspecting, they'd be selling it to landscapers!
The best mulch to use is pulverized and shredded hardwood mulch.  It will be a medium brown in color.  If your mulch looks dyed, it has been.  
Another mulch myth is that mulch will 'prevent weeds'. Um, no,no it won't.  The initial heat from the mulch will scorch a few weeds to be sure,but it won't prevent weed seeds in the mulch from germinating or any weed seeds that drift into your yard from germinating.   Only a pre-emergent herbicide like Preen will help keep weed seeds at bay.
Good Luck and Happy Gardening!