People often use mulch in their garden, but often have questions on how to use it and what the advantages are.  First of all, there are generally two types of mulch; organic and inorganic.  Examples of organic mulches would be leaves, grass clippings, or tree bark chips.  Inorganic mulches include river rock or landscaping fabric.  Inorganic mulches won't degrade.  Although that will make them last longer, they will not benefit the soil like organic mulches will.  You will want to choose the one that provides the function that you need and the desired look that you are trying to achieve.

There are several reasons that you might want to use mulch.  Generally, it will give a better look to your garden.  But appearances are not the only advantage.  Mulch provides insulation for plants with the temperature start to turn cold.  This can help protect the roots by maintaining a more consistent temperature.  Some mulches also help in the summer.  Depending on what you use, mulch can help retain moisture in the soil.  This helps in extreme heat and can make watering more effective.  Mulch can also make it more difficult for weeds to grow, and in some cases prevent them from growing at all.

There are some issues that you will want to take into account when mulching.  You will want to leave a couple of inches around the base of the plant free of mulch.  If you mulch too close to the base, this can weaken the base of the plant or cause it to rot if it is too moist.  Each type of mulch has advantages and disadvantages so you might want to do a little research before choosing the type that is right for you.