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Garden Mulch FAQ - Mulching Gardens

Leaf Mulch, Preparing Fall Gardens for Winter

By David Beaulieu, About.com

Salt marsh hay is a popular garden mulch in many seaside communities.

Salt marsh hay is a popular garden mulch in many seaside communities.

David Beaulieu

Q.--
What is the difference between garden mulch and compost?

Q.--
I have seen people using leaves or bark as a garden mulch. Are there other types of garden mulches?

Q.--
Is it safe to use newspapers as a garden mulch or put them in my compost pile?

Q.--
Is playground rubber mulch safe to use around plants?

Q.--
Is it safe to mulch around a house foundation, or does that invite termites?

Q.--
I've seen people build a stone-wall raised bed around a big tree on their lawn, filling the raised bed with garden mulch. What are the best mulches to use for this?

Q.--
I want to use the leaves that I've raked as a garden mulch. Should I apply the mulch immediately to the garden, or wait?

Q.--
Everything in my vegetable garden and annual flower beds has been harvested or is dead. I want to mulch these areas. Is there anything I should do prior to spreading the mulch?

Q.--
I've been told that leaves require shredding prior to being applied on the garden as a mulch. What is the purpose in shredding leaves first?

Q.--
I will be rototilling my vegetable garden and annual flower beds in fall, to prepare them for mulching. Should I be spreading anything over the gardens first before tilling, so that I can work it into the soil?

Q.--
Since there are no weeds in winter, what is the purpose of applying a garden mulch in the fall?

Q.--
I have a huge area to mulch, but I don't rake enough leaves to use them as a garden mulch to cover my whole garden. What are my alternatives for mulches?

Q.--
I have heard of "cover crops" being used instead of garden mulches. What exactly is a cover crop?

Q.--
What are the advantages and disadvantages to the landscaper of a cover crop as opposed to using leaf garden mulches in the garden?

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