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