Mulching Mulching By Michael D. Whalen, Colorado Master Gardener SM , Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, Denver With increased environmental awareness among today's gardeners, many are learning new practices such as leaving grass clippings on the lawn, saving excess plant materials for making compost and taking advantage of the many benefits of organic mulch.
Mulches help reduce evaporation from the sun, thereby decreasing watering needs.
They suppress weed growth naturally, diminishing the need for chemical herbicides. Mulches also prevent sudden changes in soil temperature, which helps prevent tender premature growth during winter warm spells. Such growth is killed easily in early spring by the return of cold winter temperatures. An often-overlooked source of free mulch is the woody prunings from our yards. Rather than automatically bundling twigs and branches for trash pick-up, consider, instead, how they could be used.