Mulkning

Mulkning is the horticultural practice of covering the soil around plants with a layer of material, called mulch, to modify the soil environment. Mulch helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds, regulate temperature, and raise soil organic matter as it decomposes.

Materials used for mulkning are either organic, such as straw, wood chips, bark, compost, leaves, and grass clippings, or inorganic, such as plastic film, landscape fabric, or gravel. A typical layer is about 5–10 cm thick; keep mulch away from stems to prevent rot and adjust depth as plants grow and weather conditions change.

Benefits of mulkning include reduced irrigation needs, erosion control, and improved soil structure and microbial activity. Organic mulches slowly release nutrients and can enhance soil fertility over time. Drawbacks can include nitrogen immobilization with high-carbon materials, moisture-related rot if the mulch stays too wet, heat buildup with some inorganic mulches, and the potential attraction of pests in certain contexts.

Variations of mulkning include living mulches, or cover crops, grown between or around crops to serve as mulch, and sheet mulching, used in garden beds or landscape restoration. Mulkning is widely employed in home gardens, farms, and orchards as part of sustainable soil and water management.

See also: mulching, soil conservation, composting.