Garden beds require a few components: compost-rich soil; soil that is warm enough; and moisture to keep plant roots hydrated. You can create those conditions without outside work by building a ...

I mulch my vegetable beds with a thick (6-inch) layer of leaves or well-broken-down compost. I put a blanket of oak leaves on my fallow vegetable beds in the fall.

Whether you're trying to control weeds or make a garden bed look more finished, here's how to select the best type of mulch for every garden bed.

Originally published as “How to Make Instant No-dig Garden Beds” in the June/July 2008 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine and regularly vetted for accuracy.

For vegetable gardens, work it into the soil; for flower beds, simply layer it on top. 7. Monitor and maintain ... Now you've learned how to make mulch from fallen leaves, ...

You can kind of finish off your beds or your garden with mulch and it finishes things off for you," said Jeff Wallitsch, of Wallitsch Gardens. "But there's a lot of benefits for mulching.

I think I’d be hard pressed to find a gardener unaware of mulch, that stuff you put under plants to help keep down weeds and make your landscape beds look more defined. But there’s more to ...