Q: A friend and I were wondering if there is any problem using coal as mulch
around plants or as a material for a path? She has the coal in a bin in her basement and according to her description it is the size of 1 inch gravel. She has had the coal for a while.

A: I sure wouldn’t use it on a path. The black dust from shoes would be impossible to get off a home’s rugs or deck or patio. I don’t see any reason coal couldn’t be used as a mulch although using it like stone is problematic because it’s hard to keep looking nice. It would be hard to keep it free of leaves and pine needles.

Why not see if you can find an amateur blacksmith who could use the coal? Try the Fine Arts Dept. at Georgia State University.