Mulch

Mulch should be called the miracle worker of the garden. Spread mulch around your plants; you'll kick out weeds, preserve moisture, and add the perfect finishing touch to garden beds and borders. But as with so much in the landscape, there's plenty to learn about mulch, including the types that best match the style of your landscape. Use our guide to figure out what you need. Once you've figured out style, the question becomes how much mulch is enough? Turn to our mulch calculator, which helps you figure out the right amount before you even start spreading it around plants. Compost can also be used as mulch; dive right into these reader recipes for creating the richest compost piles around. Once you've selected the right mulch for your landscape, you'll want to apply several inches at the beginning and end of the growing season. One of the rewards will likely be a richer soil with more earthworms -- good for the dirt and good for your plants, too. Learn why with our introduction to the power of worms.