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Mulched gardens are healthier, have fewer weeds, and are more drought-resistant than unmulched gardens. Done properly, it’ll allow you to spend less time watering, weeding, and fighting pest problems.

Here are the steps to mulch your garden.

• Keep mulch at least an inch away from plant stems to avoid rot and fungus problems.
• Leave at least half your grass clippings on the lawn. They are an important source of nutrients.
• Clippings used as garden mulch should be sun-dried for a day or so. Do not use clippings from lawns treated with herbicides or toxic pest controls.
• Use only leaves that have been aged at least nine months. This allows the growth-inhibiting phenols to be leached out.
• Secure plastic mulch withEarth Staples. Cover the entire row before planting, and then cut planting holes as needed. You can also cut the plastic in half lengthwise, and snuggle it up near the plants from each side.
• Beneath the mulch, applya nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Organic mulch, especially leaves and wheat straw, can rob the soil of nitrogen as it is decomposing.

Sourced from Gardeners.com.  Visit http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/mulch-for-vegetable-gardens/5013.html for more in-depth details.