Mulching is a common and crucial technique in gardening. It includes the practice of covering the soil near plants and trees with organic or inorganic mulches. The mulch placed on the soil acts as a protective cover and has numerous benefits. Apart from the benefits it can also give a neat and tidy look to the landscape.

Some of the many benefits of mulching are-

• The mulch covering helps the soil to retain moisture during hot summer months.

• Mulch helps in controlling soil erosion during wet and rainy season. The water tends to drain nutrients from the soil but mulching prevents this from happening by keeping the soil covered and intact.

• Mulching also helps in improving the texture of soil.

• The growth of weeds is noticeably suppressed by the use of mulch around plants.

• Mulching protects the roots and stems of plants during extreme winters. The soil tends to get moist and it freezes during winter months but mulching acts as a protective layer and helps in maintaining the temperature of the soil.

• Some colored mulches are also used in gardens which gives the landscape a decorative finish.

These are some of the many benefits of mulching. However, it is equally important to know that excessive use of mulches on the soil can prove to be harmful for the plants. The covering of mulch should not be so thick that the plants start growing in mulch instead of soil. Also, it is crucial to introduce the right kind of mulch. Avoid using dried leaves that have been diseased or infected. The infection can spread to your plants and cause serious damage. It is advisable not to use plastic mulch in large quantities as it does not let the water penetrate freely to the roots of the plants.

Remove the mulch from the soil when it has spoiled so that it does not cause any harm to the plants. Rotten mulch can get infected with bacteria and fungus which can penetrate the roots of your plants.

Some of the examples of organic mulches that can be used in home gardens are Pine Straw, Compost, Grass clippings, Crushed corn cobs, twigs, straw, wood chips, pine bark, etc. Inorganic mulches are also available and the common ones include rocks, gravel, black plastic, rubber mulch, etc.

You can also grow groundcovers near the annuals and perennials. They act as natural mulch and prevent the growth of unnecessary weeds.