Mulch has been called the gardener’s friend-and for a good reason. It offers three major benefits:
- Suppression of weeds
- Conservation of moisture in the soil
- Moderation of soil temperatures, keeping it warmer on cold nights and cooler on hot days
There are also many other benefits of mulch:
- In winter, protect plants from the cycle of freezing and thawing (which can heave them out of the ground)
- Prevent soil compaction and crusting
- Slow down runoff and erosion, especially on slopes
- Break down and feed the soil (if organic mulch such as clippings)
- Warm the soil in spring, allowing the gardener to plant days or weeks before the soil would normally be ready
- Keeping plants off the ground, especially tomatoes and melons, to avoid plant disease
- Keep plants clean, especially lettuce and celery, preventing rain from splashing soil that could carry disease into plants