Mulching provides several duties for your new trees, shrubs and flowers. A few of the most important are:

1. It helps retain moisture, especially important in dry-hot areas.

2. It helps control the temperature around the roots, keeping them cooler in the summer and holding back frost in colder seasons. A good mulch will go a long way to prevent heat stress in newly planted trees and shrubs.  

3. Helps control soil erosion around plants & trees.

4. Discourages garden critters from digging up your  treasures.

5. Actually improves soil quality as it breaks down.

Q. Will annuals such as cleome, snapdragons, marigolds, and
cosmos be able to self-seed in a garden that's mulched with bark chips?

A.  Adding a new layer of mulch every spring can cover up the seeds
that were naturally sown by the plants the previous year. If possible,
wait  until the seedlings are a few inches tall before mulching and use a
thin layer of mulch. You may have better luck with a mulch that contains particles smaller than bark chips, such as wood chips or cocoa hulls.

Q. Should I mulch the perennials I plant this fall?

A. Mulching fall-planted perennials can help the soil stay warmer longer so root growth can continue. In cold climates, however, the plants also need time to harden off for the winter, and a thick layer of mulch can interfere with this process. The best approach is to spread a thin layer of mulch after fall planting, and then add a thicker layer once the ground has frozen.

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