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Mulch is part of the natural process of all woodlands and grasslands. As the leaf or grass litter stays on the ground, it breaks up into smaller pieces. This is called leaf mold. If leaf mold gets moisture and a warm temperature, it decays and becomes a dark material called "duff." Further decay and it becomes humus.

Feeding the soil is not the only benefit from mulch. The blanket protects living plant roots from weather extremes. The small pockets of air work as well as a blanket for some of the plants. It warms in winter and cools in summer. Mulches soak up the rain and evaporate the water during dry periods. This seems to keep the soil evenly moist.

Remember, no mulch - no earthworms. Earthworms feed on the duff. They break it down and work it into the soil. If you can't find earthworms, you need more mulch that is rotting. Dry pine bark may
keep weeds down, but it is not really mulch. Bark looks good and works well over a layer of real mulch. It keeps fruit and vegetables from the dirt. Pine bark also reduces the bugs but do not depend on it alone.

Mulch is needed in the hot, dry summer for all high water content vegetables. Many gardeners let tomatoes, squash, melons and cucumbers lay on the mulch. With the exception of melons, I never let plants lay on the ground. Build racks, fences, cages or something. Train the vines to climb. Support the tomatoes. They will be healthier. Vegetables will not be coated with mud and plant diseases from rain or watering.

There are drawbacks to using mulch. It is not a general cure-all. Hay, grass and other mulch has many weed seeds. In early spring, mulch can keep the soil too wet and cold. (Wait until later ) Mulch
may cause some plants to rot at ground level. Watch for excessive dampness over a period of days. Fresh sawdust and wood chips will rob the soil of nitrogen needed by the plants. Coarse, heavy mulch will attract mice, rats and other pests. Mice and rats attract snakes.

The answer to all of the above is a finely chopped mulch of tree leaves. The problem for many homeowners is where to get it. You can get all you want for free. Read on to see how.

Find out the garbage pickup day in an older area of the city which has many trees. If you do not own a pickup or a trailer, borrow one. Drive out to the area. Drive slowly and look. You will see many
plastic bags piled high. You will be able to tell the ones with leaves from the ones with garbage. Ask the home owner if you can have the bags. Do not just take.

On the way home, stop at a store or two and ask for large cardboard boxes. Most will give you all you want. Undo them and flatten them out to take home.

Once home, attach the boxes to a fence corner of your yard. Empty a bag or two of the leaves. Keeping the discharge toward the boxes, mow over them with a lawn mower. This breaks them up so that they will rot faster. It also reduces the volume. The chopped up leaves will not blow into your neighbor's yard like loose ones will. Put the mulch around your plants and wet it. Now your plants will
be fed and kept moist in the summer.

Learn more about this author, Kenton Killen.
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