mulch

noun

\ ˈməlch

, ˈməlsh\

Definition of mulch

: a protective covering (as of sawdust, compost, or paper) spread or left on the ground to reduce evaporation, maintain even soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds, enrich the soil, or keep fruit (such as strawberries) clean

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Examples of mulch in a Sentence

She spread some mulch around the plants.

Recent Examples on the Web

They're turned into mulch, which is then often used to spruce up public land (think parks and community gardens) or given to people who need it, according to The New York Times. — Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, "Everything You Need To Know About Recycling Your Christmas Tree," 20 Dec. 2018 Conversely, a dedicated mulching blade helps mulch leaves into your lawn. — Roy Berendson, Popular Mechanics, "Do I Need To Change My Lawnmower Blades?," 22 Jan. 2019 By the end of the hugging, the parade of students had tamped down enough mulch so the redbud sat on top of a mound of much like a cherry on a sundae. — Bill Leukhardt, courant.com, "Wethersfield School Remembers First Grader Who Died Of Cancer," 27 Apr. 2018 Because hydrangeas have shallow root systems, mulch well to prevent them from drying out. — Arricca Sansone, Country Living, "How to Grow Hydrangeas," 1 Aug. 2018 First, insert the mulch plug in the mower and close the side-discharge port. — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "How to Mulch Leaves With a Lawn Mower," 20 Sep. 2018 In addition to mulch and groundcovers, which prevent evaporation and erosion, Shatynski practices vermicomposting, placing fruit and vegetable scraps and paper towels in red wiggler worm bins in her garage. — Dawn Standke, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Tally up your garden’s earth friendliness," 12 July 2018 The downside is that earwigs are in heaven, enjoying the mulch cover. — Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Consider all insect control measures carefully as earwigs, squash bugs move in," 22 June 2018 Elgin also will be providing small amounts of mulch and dirt, Center said. — Mike Danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Volunteers can still sign up for Elgin NeighborWorks Day Saturday," 15 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mulch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Statistics for mulch

Last Updated

10 Feb 2019

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Time Traveler for mulch

The first known use of mulch was in 1657

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More Definitions for mulch

mulch

noun

English Language Learners Definition of mulch

: a material (such as straw, leaves, or small pieces of wood) that is spread over the ground in a garden to protect the plants or help them grow and to stop weeds from growing

See the full definition for mulch in the English Language Learners Dictionary

mulch

noun

\ ˈməlch

Kids Definition of mulch

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a material (as straw or bark) spread over the ground especially to protect the roots of plants from heat or cold, to keep soil moist, and to control weeds