Some of you will be mulching your gardens soon, and proper mulching is key. Remember to install 2-3" in perennial gardens and 3-4" around trees and shrubs. Please do not use landscape fabric or plastic, because as a barrier it only diminishes nutrients getting to plants, and it truly is ineffective long term for reducing weed populations. The right thickness of mulch and densely planted areas tend to be better strategies to reduce weed populations.
Lastly, remember that trees and shrubs like donuts, and do not like volcanoes or turtle neck mulching, as is pictured here. This practice is detrimental to trees and shrubs for many reasons. Instead, create a donut around your trees and shrubs and add light sprinkles of mulch to the middle near trunks.
