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A. Gardeners are always looking for ways to cut down on time consuming work in the garden. One of the biggest chores is keeping weeds out of the flower and vegetable beds. Gardeners can benefit by learning early on to apply generous amounts of mulch. If applied early enough, many weed seeds won't germinate, and if they do, they're unstable and easy to pull.
There are lots of different kinds of mulches, everything from tree bark varieties such as pine, cypress and hardwood, to things like pine needles and straw. Whatever is used, it is best to layer it on two to three inches thick for it to be effective.
Mulching is a good way to maintain a consistent level of moisture in the soil and this can be important for seedlings and young transplants. Well rotted pine bark is an excellent source of humus as it decays. Applying it directly on top of the beds not only keeps the weeds down, it also improves the quality of the soil.
Mulch also can give flower and vegetable beds a beautiful, finished look. But to encourage some of the old fashioned, hardy volunteer flowers, such as foxglove, larkspur and cornflower, be careful not to mulch around these plants.
Mulches modify soil temperature in the garden. Applied in late fall, winter mulch insulates plant roots, crowns and stems of winter crops from extremely low temperatures. Conversely, mulching in the summer months keeps the soil cooler.