06/02/2026
Is colored mulch actually safe? It's one of the most common questions we get and it deserves a real answer.
The concern is legitimate. Some manufacturers use wood from demolition debris or chemically treated lumber that can leach harmful substances into your soil. We've been making mulch since 1992, and we want to show you exactly what we do differently.
At J.A. Rutter, every incoming load is inspected on-site, every supplier signs a strict vendor agreement, and every month our wood mixture is tested by an independent lab against 17 Pennsylvania DEP safety parameters.
In all our years of monthly testing? The vast majority of those substances come back non-detectable.
Read the full blog to see exactly what we test for and why it matters for your yard, your family, and your pets.
https://jarutter.com/we-test-our-mulch