If you compare wooden pallets with pine platforms, you’ve probably decided between durability and affordable options. Unlike hardwood, softwoods such as pine are inexpensive enough to use stringers only one-way. So what are the differences between hardwood and softwood pallets? And which one to choose?

When pallets are produced, they come in several types of wood; hardwood and softwood materials. However, many people may not understand that difference. Softwood species influence pallet functionality and pricing. To understand the differences between hardwood pallets vs soft hardwood pallets and what is needed in each product, please read below.

Why Choose a Wooden Pallet in the First Place?

Unlike other types of pallets, wood pallets are strong: wood pallets have high stability which allows for the strong lifting of heavy objects. Outside of food-grade industries, hardwood is used for many applications requiring a stronger, more durable pallet that will make many more trips than its aspen counterpart. The durability of a pallet made of wood has a strong strength and can last a lifetime. Wood pallet is used in different applications for shipping and storage of products. Wooden pallets are produced using renewable materials so that they are reusable or compostable after being not used anymore.

Properties of Hardwood Pallets

Hardwood comes from deciduous broadleafs like oaks, maples, beech, hickory, and walnuts. This is a type of tree called a dicot that has a wide spread across the Midwest and Eastern Coast. Approximately a quarter of the hardwoods harvested annually from domestic markets are cultivated in regions that spread throughout the country.

Other kinds of hardwood, like maple, are imported into international countries. Hardwood can be extremely durable because they have dense properties. There has been much misinformation about hardwood pallets being much stronger than softwood. Realistically, the pallet is only slightly stronger when compared to softwood.

Choosing Wood for the Best Pallets

Depending upon the wood used, the pallet is often crafted according to the country of origin of its construction. Pallets represent only one component of a much more extensive supply system. Pallet manufacturers seek a material that will meet a specific need as well as be easily accessible.

If wood supply is high and accessible, the chain to produce pallets remains constant, and most importantly. The most common pallet type for wood is oak pine in the USA. Hardwood pallets were the preferred choice for many years but quite a few pallets are built from softwoods these days, especially southern yellow pine.

Pallet Wood Types

Each wooden pallet is differentiated by the materials used to make it. However, there are some other things that play a role in developing different types of pallets. The most common thing among those is the process used to obtain the pallet.

Sanding

The most important change that leads people to pick pallet wood is sanding. It involves joining three or four pieces of sanding discs using a random orbiter, on both sides until very smooth. Some boards require a single piece. What are the good reasons a board is almost invincible? Is it really possible? Sanding makes the wood more durable as it can be molded to another piece of wood using adhesive materials. Hence, sanding is an important step and the pallets that are sanded prove to be more durable.

Smells

You can often notice scents of different trees from pallets. This happens usually when sanded, and sometimes when sliced. You can easily figure out if the pallets are made of pine wood because of the distinct smell. Since pine is a plentiful wood and is easy to process, pine pallets tend to be relatively cheap and easy to come by. Such smells can help you identify the type of lumber used in manufacturing the pallets which can also tell you the kind of wood used in it.

Pallet Wood Determines Its Type

It will determine whether or not wood is used as a material to construct a pallet and can also determine its cost. For example, pine is a woody material that has a light color and straight grain. Pine wood is a cheaper choice for pallets and is less strong than many kinds of wood. Oak is a hardwood that has a color range of white and reddish-brown. Its extremely coarse grain is very sturdy which makes the pallet ideal for outdoor use or heavy loads.

New hardwood pallets are generally stronger than new softwood pallets due to being denser, although the hardwood species vary quite a bit and some species are actually less dense than pine. In general, though, they withstand more stress before they bend and break and hardwood pallets tend to retain their shape under higher pressure than those made of softwood.

How to Choose the Right Type of Wood Pallet?

When selecting a wood pallet, think about the intended use and weight of the load needed. You can use the pallet as a guide when deciding what wood to use. Choose wood such as maple or oak to provide durability and withstand heavy outdoor use. For lighter-weight pallets to use indoors select softer woodlike pine.

Pallets come in many types: there are plastic pallets, steel pallets, and wooden pallets. Each kind of pallet offers benefits but also presents its disadvantages. Plastic pallets are more difficult to disinfect, steel pallets are costly, and wooden pallets can have a high replacement rate depending on their material.

Key Differences Between Hardwood and Softwood Pallets

Here are some main differences between hardwood and softwood pallets:

Hardwood Pallets

Pallets made of hardwood have historically been employed because of their strength and longevity. They are more affordable and environmentally friendly than metal or plastic, making them the greatest choice from an economic and environmental standpoint. Hardwood pallets can frequently be reused repeatedly without any problems. Hardwoods, like oak, maple, and walnut trees, are derived from blooming plants. Most frequently utilized in long-lasting projects like construction, luxury furniture, flooring, and others. Their density is higher than that of softwoods.

Hardwoods are typically more pricey. However, because of the resilience provided by their higher density, objects constructed of hardwood survive longer. What you’re shipping must be taken into careful consideration while choosing the right kind of wooden pallet for your business. A less thick material would be better for conveying lighter items like plastic or paper goods. However, the higher the density, the less sensitive it will be to mold and damage if you are transporting food-grade materials.

Softwood Pallets

When a hardwood shortage in the US occurred, demand for softwood pallets began to rise. To reduce the chance of mold or fungus formation, the majority of producers kiln dry their pallets. Using softwood pallets could have additional advantages besides just its desired hue, such as:

• Gymnosperm plants like pine and spruce provide softwood.
• You won’t have to worry about shortages because they make up 80% of all lumber.
• A greater variety of uses than hardwood, such as windows, doors, paper, and furniture for simple pallet recycling,
• Less costly and typically lower density than hardwoods

Conclusion

Choosing between different types of wood for your pallets can be a tricky task. There are a number of factors you need to consider before purchasing the right type of wood for your pallets. For instance, the weight of the wood matters the most. If your pallets are heavy, then your overall packaging will become heavy resulting in costly delivery. Hence, you should choose the type of wood that is not only practical but also durable.

Unaka Forest Products is a well-reputed pallet construction company. The pallets we produce are highly durable and can sustain high pressures. We will suggest the right kind of pallets you should be using for your business. We have all types of hardwood and softwood pallets to offer. We guarantee our customers long-lasting pallets. Contact us today and place an order!

Mulching your lawn can help you with many different benefits. Suitable landscaping requires proper and thorough trimming. Mulch provides an invisible barrier between plants and uncontaminated ground. The barrier can consist of many organic materials, including wood chips, pine trees, and straw. Mulching, however, doesn’t just enhance your property. Know the benefits of mulching by reading this blog.

Mulch is a common garden product. Mulch makes grass appear good and usually needs less maintenance because there’s less modding or pruning. Different mulch surfaces also present problems.

Kinds of Mulch

While certain mulches are more useful and can add nutrients to the soil, others are more aesthetically pleasing. The two types of mulch—organic and inorganic—each have advantages and disadvantages. Mulch controls weeds, retains moisture, prevents soil erosion, maintains soil nutrients, and helps control pests. There are numerous natural mulching options, some of which you can even get from your backyard. Materials such as bark, wood chips, pine needles, straw, and grass clippings make the best natural decomposing

Organically Attained Mulch

This mulch is made entirely from natural components. It can sometimes partially inhibit weeds and works best for feeding nutritious nutrients to your plants.

Bark

Bark mulches work best when placed around trees, bushes, and garden beds where little digging will be required. Also, foundation plantings and front walkways are the finest places to apply bark. These woody mulches don’t blend into the soil well, and it can get tiresome to continually move them out of the way to make room for new plants. However, they will endure longer than finer organic mulches.

Pine Needles

You may have heard that pine straw, also referred to as pine needles once they have fallen, lowers the pH of the soil. Pine needles may mildly acidify the soil when used as mulch, but not enough to harm plants. The sole warning is that using fresh, green pine needles as mulch may slightly increase the soil’s acidity. However, this increase may be minor. Pine needles can be a wonderful option if you’re searching for a mulch that won’t compress, inhibits weeds, and maintains soil moisture.

Grass Clippings

Grass clippings are usually a mixed bag and are ideal for weed suppression in secluded regions of your garden. Use caution while using grass clippings because they decompose quickly and can become rather slimy and smelly. This is true of most green plant materials with high water content, including grass clippings. Additionally, grass clippings have the propensity to mat down and block the passage of water.

Inorganic Mulch

Mulch that is inorganic is manmade and not formed of natural components. It doesn’t improve the soil, but it works best for completely blocking weeds, holding onto water, and preserving longer than organic materials.

Plastic Fabric

For the area around foundation plantings and other shrubs and trees, plastic and landscape fabric are suitable options. You don’t want to have to bother with weeding them all summer because these plants don’t need frequent fertilizing, and you won’t typically be working in these beds.

If there is not enough moisture, plastic can destroy all the beneficial soil organisms, including plant roots and bacteria, in addition to covering weed seeds. 5 Make careful to make enough holes in the fabric for the water to pass through. You don’t have enough drainage if you notice puddles building up on the plastic or fabric. Landscape cloth is porous, so unless it becomes blocked, there shouldn’t be a problem. Plastic harms the ecology and the soil as it breaks down, though. Similar to landscape cloth, which decomposes after a few years, weeds can pass through it.

Gravel & Stone

In locations that need good drainage or beds with plants that enjoy a bit extra heat, such as Mediterranean herb gardens, and rain gardens, gravel, and stone work well as mulches. Think carefully before using stone or gravel as mulch since stone is difficult to remove.

Which mulch you select will depend on its intended use and appearance. Every year, there are more possibilities available. Before you start spreading, weigh your options carefully and pick a mulch that will suit your tastes and benefit your garden for many years.

Benefits of Mulching

Mulch has a major advantage in adding a protective barrier to the root of plants and trees. Mulching reduces weed growth and keeps moisture at an ideal level reducing soil erosion and maintaining soil nutrients and pests from growing. The natural mulching process is extensive and is often found in the garden.

The naturally decomposing mulch combines wood chips, pine, and straw to produce a beautiful product. A less invasive option is to include materials such as black plastic and landscaping fabrics, recycled tires, pebbles, and river rock. Here are some of the most common benefits of mulching:

Controlling Weeds

Weed can damage cultivated plants, as it can also kill them. Mulch is a layer that provides weeds with less room to develop and makes their growth harder. This additional layer adds another barrier to stop daylight from reaching the open spaces where weeds thrive. Wide areas have become popular with weeds because they have ample openings that allow for dropping seeds and growing quickly. Mulching eliminates weeding from the bare ground so that seeds will not reach the soil.

Retaining Moisture

One crucial part a landscaping plan must include is that your lawn is not just beautiful, but can withstand periods of occasional rain. Mulch helps keep the soil moist. It also prevents the sunlight from vaporizing the humidity during the day, which results in cooler and humid soil which helps to grow thriving plants.

Any mulch’s capacity to keep soil moist is one of its best features. Over time, organic mulches decompose and improve the condition of the soil. This can be quite beneficial, particularly if your land is not very fertile. Mulch aids with weed management and lessens winter damage.

Preventing Soil Erosion

Mulch is a material that is spread around a plant or over the soil surface as a protective layer. Soil erosion can cause significant damage in commercial and residential landscape projects. Mulch also reduces erosion. The mulch helps keep the ground dry, which helps reduce erosion. Mulching protects the soil from being swept up by heavy rainfall and also prevents damage.

Controlling Soil Temperature

Control Mulching will moderate soil temperature fluctuations! This means that in the hot summer season, plant roots will be kept cooler by mulch covering the soil. In the frigid-winter season, mulch protects plant roots from the cold and helps to prevent frost-heaving, where plants are pushed out of the ground by natural expansion

Controls Pests

Putting up mulch can prevent pest infestation. Mulch reduces leaf rot in the plant significantly. Mulching reduces leaf foliar fungal pathogens by reducing soil splashes which prevent fungal growth in plants. Consult our landscaping professionals to see what mulch would fit in your lawn and any pest problem.

Prevent Soil Erosion

Unlike a traditional mulching system, mulches will keep the water from getting into the ground. Mulch helps to reduce the effect that rain has on the soil and reduce its friction. When the rain is heavy mulching is an easy way to prevent the soil from becoming damaged.

Mulch acts as a shield that, helps keep your landscape in place and finally prevents soil erosion. Soil Nutrients Not only does mulch prevent soil erosion, it also can keep soil nutrients from getting washed away by the forceful rain.

Conclusion

Mulch can be a very useful substance as you can use it in your backyard as well as in large scaled projects. It is something you can attain easily at a cheap rate. So why let something so useful go to waste?

Unaka Forest Products has been in the pallet and mulch business for a long time. With our given experience, we provide our customers with the best quality services. We also provide precut lumber and biofuel. So if you are in need of landscaping mulch or high-quality wooden pallets, then contact us today!