Mulching has an added advantage - fewer weeds. Insects are a gardener's nightmare. Aphids, beetles, slugs and caterpillars can destroy a garden and undermine all of your hard work. Insecticidal soap, sprayed on the top and underneath of the leaves, will keep all but the slug at bay. For him, use slug bait, sold at most garden centers, or create a roadblock around your plants by using crushed eggshells.
Slugs slide over the eggshells and die.
Succession planting is a way of achieving a continuous harvest, every gardener's dream. For example, green beans can be planted every two weeks to assure you'll have beans through the end of the season. Once a crop is finished, clean out the area and plant something else that will have enough time to mature before your areas first frost. For example, once your peas are done producing, clean the area out and plant beans, once your radishes are done plant carrots. Never leave an area unplanted, utilize all the space.