The benefits of an application of mulch to the garden are many. Primarily, mulch acts to conserve moisture by shading the soil surface and to suppress the growth of weeds. A further benefit occurs when the mulch naturally breaks down, returning valuable organic material to the soil below.

Mulch can be misused. One mistake is to mulch heat loving plants too early [1]. Warm season vegetables such as peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, squash and melons require warm soil for the proper root development necessary to support and sustain a healthy plant. These plants will produce much better if you wait until early July before applying a layer of mulch.

Another common mistake using mulch is putting down too little. A light application may look good for a few weeks, but soon weeds poke through. In order to effectively suppress weed growth, and to give the plant protection against unforeseen drought conditions. Be sure the layer of mulch, depending on the choice of material, is three to six inches thick [2].

So remember, for mulch to be really effective, avoid putting it down too early or too thinly.