Mulch is a layer of organic material like leaves, aged wood chips, compost or grass clippings that you spread around your plants. Place one to three inches of pesticide-free mulch in your flower beds and vegetable gardens. Use 2 to 3 inches around trees, shrubs and wood perennials. Keep mulch about an inch away from stems and tree trunks. When you mulch your garden you are being earth friendly in many ways:

• Improves the soil by adding nutrients and organic matter
• Keeps the weeds down
• Reduces need for fertilizers
• Conserves water
• Saves money on your water bill and fertilizers
• Reduces the amount of time you spend watering and weeding
• The mulch recycles itself
• The soil temperature is stabilized
• Helps prevent soil and plant roots from drying out
• It makes your garden look even better than it already does