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