"Unlike soil amendments, you should not mix mulches into the soil. Instead, layer mulch over the top of the soil. You can use mulch to modulate soil temperature, retain soil moisture, and suppress weeds. Over time, mulch can also improve soil tilth and fertility. Different materials will accomplish some of these tasks better than others. That's why we've put together this Mulching 101 primer."
"The best mulches are organic materials, not in the USDA-certified sense of "free from synthetic chemicals," although that is also a good idea. Organic in this case means "derived from living organisms." Organic mulches are biodegradable, plant-based materials that add nutrients to the soil as they break down. Nearly any organic material can be used, including compost, bark, wood chips, leaves, seed hulls, grass clippings, nut shells, newspaper, cardboard, or straw."
"Sometimes ground cover plants, especially nitrogen-fixing species like clover, are called living mulches. These are useful for overwintering vegetable gardens, where they prevent erosion and improve soil tilth. Be sure to select groundcover that is native to your region. Clover and other leguminous ground covers provide dual benefits by functioning as both protective mulch and soil fertility enhancers. Their symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria allows these plants convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available forms."
Mulch is any material used to cover bare soil in a landscape. Mulch should be layered on top of the soil rather than mixed into it. Mulch moderates soil temperature, retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and can improve soil tilth and fertility over time. Different mulching materials perform these functions to varying degrees and also influence landscape appearance. Organic mulches are biodegradable, plant-derived materials that add nutrients as they decompose; common examples include compost, bark, wood chips, leaves, seed hulls, grass clippings, nut shells, newspaper, cardboard, and straw. Living mulches such as clover prevent erosion, help overwinter vegetable beds, and fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis with rhizobia bacteria, releasing plant-available nitrogen when they die back.
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