Mulch is a protective cover that is applied to the soil under and around plants. It helps retain moisture, reduce water evaporation, and control weeds. There are many different types of mulch. They can be organic or inorganic, natural or artificial, and they can vary in color. Some examples of mulches are hay, straw, leaves, bark chips, pine needles and shredded paper. Mulch is a protective cover that is applied to the soil under and around plants. It helps retain moisture, reduce water evaporation, and control weeds. There are many different types of mulch. They can be organic or inorganic, natural or artificial, and they can vary in color. Some examples of mulches are hay (animal feed), straw (rice husks), leaves (fallen from trees), bark chips (shredded tree bark), pine needles (needles from pine trees) and shredded paper (recycled paper).