Soil & Beds
How and Why to Mulch Your Garden
Mulch is any material you spread over the soil around your plants. A simple layer does a lot of quiet work — it holds moisture in, keeps weeds down, evens out soil temperature, and shields leaves from soil that splashes up in the rain.
Steps
- Apply approximately 2–3 inches of organic mulch around established plants.
- Good materials include clean straw, shredded leaves, untreated grass clippings, or fine wood mulch.
- Keep mulch a few inches away from plant stems to reduce moisture-related problems.
- Refresh the layer during the season as the mulch breaks down into the soil.
- Mulch helps retain moisture, moderate soil temperature, reduce weeds, and prevent soil from splashing onto leaves.
Helpful tip
Do not pile mulch directly against plant stems — leave a small gap so stems stay dry and healthy.