What Is Mulch, and How Does It Benefit Your Landscape?

Put down some roots by covering them with nutrient-rich mulch

A house with terrace
Photo: photographee.eu / Adobe Stock
A house with terrace
Photo: photographee.eu / Adobe Stock
Ginny Bartolone
Written by Ginny Bartolone
Contributing Writer
Tara Dudley
Reviewed by Tara Dudley
Landscape Designer, Plant Life Designs
Updated October 10, 2023

Highlights

  • Mulch comes in organic or synthetic forms.

  • Using mulch is an inexpensive way to make a big impact in your yard.

  • Mulch cuts down on garden work.

  • It also provides plants and trees protection from the elements.

Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.

Whether you want to make your gardens look uniform, cut down on gardening chores, or protect your plants and trees, mulching will give you all those benefits and more. So, what is mulch? There are different types of mulch to choose from that are easy to apply and maintain and will give you the garden of your dreams. You can certainly hire a gardener near you to come over and mulch your prized beds, but it’s an easy DIY project that can be done in a few hours, depending on the area you want mulched. Check out these mulch facts below to help your garden and lawn thrive. 

What Is Mulch?

Mulch is a material that’s placed on top of existing soil in your gardens. It makes gardening easier and provides many benefits to your existing soil, plants, and trees. Mulch comes in different forms, like organic or synthetic, and a few different colors, such as black or brown, depending on the variety you choose. The cost of mulch ranges between $30 and $120 per cubic yard, though there are also some DIY types of mulch that will cost you nothing or next to nothing.

Benefits of Mulch

Many people lay mulch down because they simply like the way it looks. It provides a uniform background for your lawn and garden that makes plants and flowers pop. But the fact is, mulching has many more benefits that make it a wonderful addition to any lawn or garden.

1. Regulates Temperature 

Adding mulch to your garden is like adding an extra layer of protection. It literally acts as a temperature regulator. The mulch keeps roots protected from the hot sun, as well as from the cold. 

2. Provides Nutrients 

Mulch gives your plants and soil an extra dose of nutrients as it breaks down.

3. Retains Moisture 

Mulch will retain more moisture after being watered than soil alone because it soaks up the water and hangs onto moisture longer than plain soil.

4. Repels Pests

Here’s a mulch fact you’ll love: Certain types of mulch, such as cedar, can repel pests, preserving your gardens and all of your hard work. 

5. Reduces Weeds

The added layer on top of existing soil prevents grass and weeds from popping up in your beautiful gardens. 

6. Prevents Erosion 

After a rainstorm, mulch will save your gardens from washing away since it provides extra protection and an added layer.

Organic vs. Inorganic Mulch Types

Organic versus inorganic mulch compared, with inorganic mulch including rocks, plastic chips and rubber chips
Photo: John Kinnander / Unsplash, Annie Lang / Unsplash

There are many varieties of mulch to choose from. You can purchase them at a gardening supply store, or you may even find what you need in your backyard. 

Organic mulch encompasses all materials that naturally break down into the earth. Varieties include leaf mulch, grass clippings, wood chips, pine needles, straw, compost, hay, and even non-glossy newspaper. Each of these types of mulch is more likely to provide crucial nutrients to your soil while insulating the area to retain water and regulate temperature. For example, the best mulch for vegetable gardens often includes these nutrient-rich additions. "Organic mulch will decompose, and will need to be replaced faster," says Tara Dudley, Expert Review Board member and owner of Plant Life Designs in central Iowa.

Inorganic mulch, in contrast, includes any material that will not break down, even if it comes naturally from the ground. For example, stones and seashells count as inorganic mulch. Manufactured materials such as rubber chips, landscape fabric, and plastic fall into the category as well. While they will not break down and add nutrients to the soil, they will stay longer and increase both your curb appeal and your fight against erosion.

Keep in mind that both types of mulch are DIYable in many cases. Making your own mulch is a cost-saving afternoon project that requires minimal tools (other than the occasional wood chipper) and may help you repurpose yard waste you'd typically have to bag up or add to the compost pile.

Where to Use Mulch

A gardener mulching flower bed with mulch
Photo: ronstik /iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Any area in your yard that doesn’t have a thick ground cover or grass will benefit from mulch. This is especially true around trees, gardens, or wherever you don’t want weeds to pop up, like a stone patio or walkway. 

For best results, add organic mulch twice a year to vegetable and perennial flower gardens: once in the fall and again in the spring. Add mulch to annuals only after they have been established (4–6 inches above the ground). And while it's easy to debate whether you should use stones, rubber, wood chips versus other organic mulch, the best type of mulch often comes down to what's in your garden and what your local soil needs.

How to Add Mulch to Your Lawn and Garden

While mulching is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do for your lawn, there are some additional hacks and facts you’ll want to keep in mind:

  • Don’t apply more than 3 inches of mulch. Adding too much will cause your gardens to be too wet and can be the cause of diseases. If you don’t add enough, weeds can creep through.

  • Before applying fresh mulch, make sure to turn old mulch with a garden weasel. This will allow the soil to breathe better and do its job.

  • Spread mulch under trees and shrubs as far as their outermost branches will reach, but never let the mulch touch the base of trees or shrubs.

  • Before and after mulching, make sure you water very well. 

  • If you’d like to cover a grassy or weedy area with mulch, consider putting down layers of cardboard or landscaping plastic instead of using weed killers.

  • Colored or dyed mulch can run on walkways or concrete. If you choose a colored mulch, don’t water it for 24–48 hours, so it has a chance to dry out and prevent bleeding.

  • It’s normal for your mulch to fade from the outside elements. Mulch can easily be freshened by turning it with your hand or rake.

Pro Tip
Too much mulch can hinder plant growth as it blocks the nutrients, sunlight, and water it needs to grow. One to four inches of mulch is your average mulch depth for most plants.
Christian Lazo portrait
Christian Lazo
Owner, Lazo Landscaping & Contracting

Katie Smith contributed to this piece.

Frequently Asked Questions

Replace organic mulch every one to two years, depending on the variety. Wood chips and straw, for example, will last a couple of years, while grass clippings and pine needles need replacing every several months. Inorganic mulch—such as rock and rubber chips—can stay in place for up to four years, depending on erosion and general garden upkeep. 

Need professional help with your project?
Get quotes from top-rated pros.
Learn more about our contributors
Ginny Bartolone
Written by Ginny Bartolone
Contributing Writer
For the past ten years, Ginny Bartolone has encouraged readers to enhance their DIY skills in a wide range of home and lifestyle topics.
For the past ten years, Ginny Bartolone has encouraged readers to enhance their DIY skills in a wide range of home and lifestyle topics.
Tara Dudley
Reviewed by Tara Dudley
Landscape Designer, Plant Life Designs
Tara brings over 15 years of residential landscape design experience to her customers as she owns, and operates a residential landscape design company in central Iowa. Her hobbies include spending time outdoors with her friends and family and creating beautiful outdoor spaces.
Tara brings over 15 years of residential landscape design experience to her customers as she owns, and operates a residential landscape design company in central Iowa. Her hobbies include spending time outdoors with her friends and family and creating beautiful outdoor spaces.
The homeowners guide to Mulch and Topsoil
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.