Mulching is a gardening practice that has been around for years, but we are just now beginning to fully understand and appreciate all it does for our plants. In fact, there are almost as many reasons to mulch as there are mulches. Mulch is simply any material used to cover the soil or plants. Many mulches are aesthetically pleasing and can help showcase your plants. A good layer of mulch will help to conserve moisture and suppresses weed germination.
Organic mulches can add nutrients and humus to the soil.
Mulch can help stabilize soil, preventing erosion. You can minimize the spread of soil-borne diseases by mulching, which prevents splashing of soil up onto plant foliage. An adequate layer of organic mulch will also keep the soil temperatures more even. There are various types of organic and inorganic mulches. Some of the materials most commonly used for mulch are compost, grass clippings, shredded leaves, hay, straw, shredded wood, bark chips, pine needles, newspaper, various rocks and pebbles, plastic and weed fabrics.