This surface covering can be organic, such as straw, wood chips, or compost, or synthetic, like plastic sheeting. It acts as a physical barrier that blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds and reduces water evaporation from the soil profile. Organic materials also slowly decompose, adding carbon and nutrients back into the topsoil over time.
Heard on the job
We need to get the straw mulch down around the garlic before the hard freeze hits tonight.
Also heard as
- Mulching
Related terms
Living mulch
A low-growing cover crop planted alongside a main crop to suppress weeds and protect the soil.
Stone mulching
The agricultural technique of covering the soil surface around plants with rocks or gravel.
Plasticulture
The practice of using plastic materials in agricultural applications to improve crop yields.