Mulch your garden, then go to the pool

Planting a garden is easy because nature has programmed us to do that. Taking care of that garden in the rising heat of summer is another matter altogether. The smart gardener knows tricks to improve plant performance and reduce chores so there's more time to spend poolside. In the wild, you'll find the forest floor carpeted in accumulations of leaves. Similarly, many years' worth of grass builds up on meadows and prairies. This is nature's way of protecting soil from erosion. It also creates an ideal environment for roots. In the garden, this layer is known as mulch, and it's the foundation of success. When we plant a garden or just a new plant, we can add a layer of mulch to give that newcomer a much better environment. Mulch helps shade the surface of the soil so it doesn't become as blistering hot as exposed ground. That means that the root zone of a young plant just beneath the surface remains cooler, too. A mulch is effective at reducing surface evaporation. Exposed soil, even if well watered, can quickly dry under the intense summer sun. That results in a hard crust atop the earth, which actually repels water. Clay soils that dry quickly will crack, causing gaps that water drains into but fails to penetrate a larger area. A mulch layer acts like insulation to help retain existing soil moisture by limiting surface evaporation. This in turn prevents crusting and cracking altogether. When you water mulched ground, not only does it penetrate more freely and evenly, the mulch itself can act like a sponge to trap even more moisture. However, keep this in mind and apply a bit more water than you normally would, to allow enough for the mulch. Remember, it will all be used to benefit the plant with little or no waste. Mulch should be applied in a layer at least 2 inches thick. This is enough to both insulate soil and block sunlight. Without light, weed seeds may germinate, but die for lack of sun. Thick mulches are the best way to prevent weeds naturally. Because mulches sit on the ground and are not cultivated into the soil, you can use all kinds of organic matter. Gardeners prefer ground or shredded bark or other more costly but visually attractive choices. For a vegetable garden or background plantings that aren't inspected up close, a better choice is anything available locally that's affordable. Shredded leaves are excellent mulch. Those gathered in fall and allowed to sit all winter in a wire corral can be used for these summer mulches. In the South, pine mulch is growing in popularity because it's cheap and slow to decompose, but this and oak leaves can be a problem where soils are already acidic. Many communities have mulch or wood-chip programs associated with landfills. They make chipped wood and compost available for pickup to residents, and these products can be cheap or free. Of course, you'll need a truck or large bags to haul it home. Baled straw is perhaps the best choice for hardworking vegetable gardens. It's easy to transport and will cover a great deal of ground. A thick layer keeps soil cool and moist even in the depth of a heat wave. It's a perfect choice for spreading around gourds, squash and melons to keep the fruit off the soil.