Question
I have two large mulch beds that are on steep hills.  I have found that light mulch like pine does not hold the hill in either rain or wind, and tends to wash/slide to the bottom.  I need to figure out what type of mulch will actually stay on the slope in heavy rains, wind, etc.  I'm thinking that something heavy and more shredded than chipped, maybe cypress or hemlock, but I just don't know.  Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

Answer
Brian,

About the only mulch I use is compost.  I either use my own composted leaves, or in a pinch, get commericially prepared compost.   It tends to be heavier than most, and it quickly absorbs water, so once the rain started, it would weigh itself down.

But if these sloped beds were mine, I'd probably start looking for groundcover plants to be acting as the mulch for the bed.   It takes a couple years, to get something in and get it established and spread, but after that it can be care free (besides the weeding).  The roots would hold during anything but the worst conditions.

For what it's worth,
Mark in Portland
Mark