190 PLANNING AND PLANTING 



THE VALUE OF A MULCH 



ELSEWHERE in this volume is told 1 of the need 

 of mulching your beds of Roses and Fall Bulbs 

 as a winter protection, and so that phase of mulch- 

 ing will be but lightly touched upon here. 



The necessity of a winter mulch is not to try 

 to prevent the ground from freezing, but in order 

 to shade the soil and thus to prevent alternate 

 freezing and thawing. It is this alternate freez- 

 ing and thawing that works mischief if not pro- 

 vided against. 



This alternate process would have a tendency to 

 heave plants and bulbs in the beds and to damage 

 the' roots, probably killing the plants, and there- 

 fore the necessity of providing against it. 



The benefits of a summer mulch are fourfold. 

 It will keep down the weeds, obviate the necessity 

 of frequent hoeing, keep the soil cool during the 

 heated days of summer, and retard the rapid 

 evaporation of the essential moisture that is in 

 the ground. 



At the beginning of the heated term, the lawn 

 clippings if you are in the habit of raking them 

 off the lawn, otherwise clean straw may be placed 

 on your beds as a mulch. It may be used around 

 your roses and evergreens with particular benefit, 



