Cypress Mulch Quiz

What You Should Know About Cypress Mulch!

Cypress forests are an important ecological resource that filter pollutants and serve as reservoirs for floodwater. Cypress swamps and forests provide unique and irreplaceable habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife. They are part of Louisiana's national image and support the economy through eco-tourism and outdoor recreation including fishing, boating and camping.

It's hard to believe, but some of Louisiana's majestic cypress trees may be harvested, chopped into small pieces, and sold as mulch.

To take the quiz, read the question and then place your mouse cursor over what you think is the correct answer and we'll tell you right away if you are right.

Question #1:

Mulch is a protective covering, usually of organic matter such as leaves, straw, or peat, placed around plants to prevent the evaporation of moisture, the freezing of roots, and the growth of weeds. What is cypress mulch?

A. The leaves collected from around cypress trees.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

B. Old dead branches that have been collected from around cypress trees.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

C. The bark of cypress trees.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

D. Entire cypress trees that have been cut down and chopped into tiny pieces and place in plastic bags to be sold in garden and hardware stores.You picked the right answer! Try another one.

Question #2:

Early in the last century, logging was a major industry throughout the state. By the 1920s, practice of "clear-cutting" had eliminated virtually all of the old-growth areas. In recent years, many forests have begun to come back. However, not enough time has passed for the trees to become mature. Why is this important?

A. Because old growth cypress forests are needed for shade.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

B. Because old growth cypress forests help protect us from hurricanes; they slow them down and make them less powerful.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

C. Because old growth forests look good and make us feel happy.You picked the right answer! Try another one.

D. Because old growth forests just seem like a good idea.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

Question #3:

Do you understand the word "irony?" It means: the use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning, sometimes humorously. Which of the following statements best describes irony?

A. Cypress mulch is as old as the hills.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

B. Old growth cypress forests are being cut down and shredded into tiny bits so that gardeners do not need to weed around the flowers they plant.Right! Everyone should have a healthy sense of humor, even while fighting to save cypress forests.

C. Cypress mulch doesn't grow on trees, you know!Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

D. A priest and a rabbi walk into a bar carrying two bags of mulch . . .Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

Question #4:

Many people believe that placing cypress mulch around their bushes and flowers protects them from insects, but this isn't true. Why?

A. Termites love the smell of cypress and they flock to it.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

B. Many insects can't smell anything anyway, so they don't know where they're going.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

C. The protective ability of cypress involves "heartwood" - the older, nonliving central wood of a tree that usually is darker and harder than the younger sapwood. Only mature cypress trees have it.You picked the right answer! Try another one.

D. Cypress trees don't deter insects - that's just an old wives tale.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

Question #5:

Why do people like cypress mulch? One of the following answers is incorrect.

A. Cypress mulch smells good.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

B. Cypress mulch is pretty to look at.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

C. They believe cypress mulch keeps insects away.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

D. They believe cypress mulch keeps birds away.Right! Birds love cypress trees, when the trees are still standing.

Question #6:

Cypress mulch originally was made strictly from the bark of the trees and was of a very fine quality. Now a bag of mulch contains mulch of very little value. What happened?

A. Manufacturers started to mix in the limbs and tops of the cypress trees as filler.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

B. Manufacturers began to harvest trees before they could develop heartwood, the part of the tree that deters insects.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

C. Consumer demand made cypress mulch more popular, so loggers began to harvest more trees to create mulch.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

D. Consumers didn't care what they were buying. They just wanted mulch.Right! Consumers very much care what they are buying, and when they learn the truth about mulch, they don't buy it.

Question #7:

Why do environmentalists try to make gardeners aware of the bad side of cypress mulch? Only one of the following answers is false.

A. Environmentalists use cypress mulch too, just like everyone else.You picked the right answer! Try another one.

B. Our cypress forests should be preserved because they provide protection from hurricanes that batter the Louisiana coast. Hurricane protection is more important than mulch.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

C. It doesn't make any sense to cut down beautiful forests just to place the shredded remnants of trees around the plants in our back yards and gardens.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

D. Cypress trees take 75 to 100 years to grow to maturity. But some loggers harvest trees that are only 15 to 20 years of age, decimating forests that are more valuable to people and animals when they are older.Sorry wrong answer. Guess again.

Question #8:

There are several alternative sources for mulch. Which of the following is NOT one of those alternatives?

A. Eucalyptus - Produced from plantation-grown trees, this mulch is naturally insect-repellent, with a rich, long-lasting color.Trick question - all are good alternatives.

B. Pine Bark - An excellent mulch with long-lasting color, it is often less expensive than purchased pine straw.Trick question - all are good alternatives.

C. Pine Straw - Available commercially by the bale, or free if you rake it yourself. Fallen leaves, especially oak leaves, make great mulch too.Trick question - all are good alternatives.

Promulch - Made from recycled rubber tires, this is used in some playgrounds. It stays in place even in areas that flood occasionally, comes in different colors, and does not emit toxins. It is somewhat expensive.Trick question - all are good alternatives.

How did you do on the quiz?

If you are a teacher and would like a hard copy or you had trouble taking the quiz online, we have provided a PDF file for download here.

The Delta Chapter is 3,000 of your neighbors supporting the work of the Sierra Club in Louisiana. We advance the cause of protecting Louisiana's environment in a variety of ways, including lobbying the state legislature in Baton Rouge, sponsoring a Mercury Public Education Campaign, raising public awareness about climate change, and working to keep the Atchafalaya Basin, America's greatest river swamp, wet and wild. In addition, we encourage our members to get outside and enjoy our beautiful planet.

The Sierra Club's members and supporters are more than 1.3 million of your friends and neighbors. Inspired by nature, we work together to protect our communities and the planet. The Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.

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