Mulch is a layer of organic or inorganic material spread over the soil that can help with several functions. Mulch discourages weeds, which compete with moisture and nutrients offering the ultimate in soil enrichment. Mulch can control soil temperature by several degrees. The best time to mulch is after your flowers have had a chance to get started.

There are all sorts of mulches, such as decorative gravel and colored plastic, but the best mulches are organic plant material that eventually decomposes and improves the soil.

• Top your beds with shredded bark, leaves, or grass clippings. This process will save you money as well as being biodegradable.
• Use a think layer of newspaper instead of black plastic for pathways and then top the paper with at least 3 inches of shredded bark. This will keep down the weeds.
• Straw is ideal mulch for vegetable gardens where appearance is not critically.
• Make leaf mold – collect autumn leaves and instead of disposing of them shred them. You can buy a machine that specializes in this if you have a large garden, but a lawn mower set to high works fine. Use leaf mold as mulch around acid loving plants like blueberries, rhododendrons, and azaleas. You can also dump the leaves into a trash can, and using a weed whacker to shred and break them down faster.  Leaf mold can be made in a simple wire-mesh enclosure or even a black plastic garbage bag. Leaves may take a year to break down. Don’t add anything else in with the leaves or you will produce compost instead.
• Pine needles are ideal for plants that like acidic soil.
• Like the smell of chocolate? Cocoa hulls allow air and moisture through to plant roots and give your garden a great smell. Use if they do not contain pesticide residues. Very good in nutrient-rich elements, and can be worked into the soil when decayed.
• Shredded bark gives a neat, finished look around landscape plantings. Comes in different colors to compliment your garden, but has little nutrients and rob the soil of nitrogen. When buying this at your garden center, be sure it was not treated with chemicals. Do not incorporate into the soil.
• If you live in a part of the country were you can get peanut shells, they make excellent mulch.
• Wood chips can be used, but there is a downside. Remember to keep at least 12 inches away from the foundation of your house. You do not want to deal with termites.