Mulch

Mulch is any material spread over the soil surface around plants — bark, straw, shredded leaves, or similar — and it's one of the simplest ways to cut down on garden maintenance. A good layer suppresses weeds, conserves soil moisture, and moderates soil temperature, all at once.

Choosing a Mulch

Organic mulches like shredded bark, wood chips, and straw break down over time, adding organic matter back into the soil as they do. Inorganic options like gravel or landscape fabric don't feed the soil but last much longer and work well in spots like paths or around drought-tolerant plantings.

Fresh wood chips can temporarily tie up nitrogen in the soil as they decompose, so they're often better used on paths than worked directly into planting beds unless well-aged first.

How Much to Apply

A layer two to three inches deep is generally enough to suppress weeds and retain moisture without smothering roots. Refresh it once or twice a season as organic mulch breaks down and thins out.