Every time I give a talk, I will mention mulch. I get lots of questions from the audience and it turns into the “mulch hour”.

What is a simple way to improve your garden overnight? Mulch!

A layer of chopped bark makes an attractive and effective mulch

What is mulch? Mulch is layer of organic matter, usually chopped bark, compost, chopped leaves, grass clippings or a combination of them all.  The layer needs to be laid over the soil to form a blanket.

What does mulch do? Mulch is like insulation on a house.  It protects the soil from extremes of heat and cold, and slows evaporation so irrigation is more effective.  Mulches keep roots cooler in summer, warmer in winter. Mulch can also help keep soil frozen in cold climates so that it does not thaw too quickly, causing frost “heaving”.

Sheet mulching involves several layers laid over a old lawn

What happens when mulch breaks down? Mulch is the natural way to feed your garden! You want the layer of mulch to be slowly composting and returning to the soil.  This encourages healthy strong plants that will need less care and fertilizer. Nature creates mulch when trees drop their leaves in fall.  These leaves break down over winter and become food for the forest. Mimic nature and you will never go wrong!