Growing Together: A Gardening Podcast · August 15, 2025 · 41 min

Tips on putting down mulch that meets your garden and landscaping needs

As you build out your yard and develop your garden, you'll inevitably find the need to put down some mulch to cover the ground and create pleasing areas around your growing spots. In this episode, Don and John go over a few key points on mulch, edging and maintenence, including things to consider when choosing rock or mulch and how to prevent weeds. Topics: 0:00 Intro 1:33 Today's topic: Mulching 2:12 Listener question: What is this powdery substance on my lilacs? 4:36 How ground cover has changed 9:42 Maitaining rock mulch 11:34 Preventing weeds with a pre-emergent herbicide 19:46 A disadvantage to rock mulch 21:07 Wood mulch; chips vs. shredded 23:52 The advantages and disadvantages of wood mulch 25:02 What to put underneath wood mulch 26:51 Tips for using cardboard under mulch 30:00 Wood vs. rock mulch 31:17 Rubber pellets 35:02 Edging