Mulching

Mulching is the practice of applying a layer of material, called mulch, to the surface of the soil, used in both commercial crop production and gardening to conserve soil moisture, improve soil fertility and health, reduce weed growth and improve the appearance of the treated area. Mulch is usually organic but need not be, and it may be a permanent covering such as plastic sheeting or a temporary one such as bark chips, laid over bare soil or around existing plants; manure and compost mulches are worked naturally into the soil by earthworms and other soil organisms. Applied correctly, mulching can improve soil productivity, and living mulches such as moss lawns and other ground covers are also used in place of inert materials.