How to Use Mulch in Gardening

On behalf of Expert Village my name is Craig Morell. I'm with Landscape Restorations in Miami, Florida. We're here at Palm Hammock Orchid Estate in Miami, Florida talking about basic gardening. This video is about mulch. Mulch doesn't always have to be things like cypress or pine bark. Mulch can actually be gravel as well. Mulch is usually used to keep the soil moisture in, to keep the soil temperatures stabilized so that it's not baking hot on the top and cooler on the bottom. Primarily it is used to retard weeds. One of the best mulches to use for the long term is even a good limestone gravel. This is a very easy product to use and apply it three or four inches thick. If you happen to be using an organic mulch such as pine bark or cypress bark or ground up oak, make sure you use a good thick layer, five or six inches, because mulch does decompress and decompose over time. If you are using organic mulches you'll definitely enrich the soil. Even cactus and succulents can use a mulch. But in the case of a cactus or succulent garden, you definitely want to use a well drained gravel mulch. Keeps down the weeds and makes for a good looking garden. It is a lot easier to maintain your garden and a lot easier to enjoy it.