How to Mulch Plants

Decide on what type of mulch to use. If you do not wish to spend money, use the clippings from your yard or leaves you rake during the fall. If you choose to use grass clippings, you should use them immediately after cutting in the spring, as they will rot if you try to store them. Leaves must be shredded in a shredding machine or chipper several months before use.

Wait until spring to mulch around flowers and vegetable plants. Applying the mulch while the soil is cool in the winter and early spring can stunt germination and hinder plant growth. Mulching during winter months also may attract rodents looking for a warm place to make a home.

Decide how thick you want your layer of mulch to be. A good rule of thumb is to lay between two to three inches of mulch. You always can add more mulch later, but it is extremely difficult to remove the mulch if you use too much.

Pull any weeds from the area before you spread the mulch.

Put on a pair of work gloves. Spread the mulch on the soil around the base of each plant by hand. Leave one inch of space around the base of the plant, as the mulch should not directly touch any part of the plant. This will help prevent excessive humidity from building up around the plant. Too much moisture from the humidity can lead to plant disease.

Apply more of the mulch in the area around each additional plant. If you have large areas in between the plants that you wish to mulch, use a rake to help spread it out.