Now that your gardens have had a chance to warm up and dry out a bit, you can add a layer of summer mulch. (Mulching too early in spring can promote the spread of mildew and fungus.)
Summer mulch cuts down on weeds, helps keep soil temperatures from fluctuating and slows the loss of moisture to evaporation.
So spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of wood chips, shredded bark or cocoa bean hulls over the soil around shrubs, trees and perennial plants. (Be sure to pull the mulch away from the base of the plants.)
In veggie beds, you can mulch with chipped leaves, dried grass clippings, hay, partially completed compost or shredded newspaper, which can be turned into the soil at the end of the season. If you don't care so much about how your gardens look, you can lay cardboard or even strips of old carpeting between the rows of vegetables.
You might want to do a little homework before you choose a mulch. Some have drawbacks:
• Cocoa bean mulch looks and smells good, but can develop mold in wet areas. It's also a concern for dog owners as it may contain theobormine, which can be toxic to dogs.
• Cypress mulch has been banned in several cities, mostly in Florida, because of environmental concerns. (The slow-growing trees are considered a critical component of the wetlands ecosystem.)
CONNIE NELSON
