Mulching

Mulching is one of the best things you can do for your garden, particularly in hot weather, as it keeps the moisture in.   Mulch also helps to keep the weeds down.

There are many different type of mulch, but my favourite is the natural leaf litter and fallen branches, etc.   This fits in with the front garden at my home, as it's all native. 

Various types of wood mulch

Sometimes large pieces of wood are left as they are, scattered around the place, but mostly we cut them up, either by hand, or using the mulcher.   Just about all the prunings from our trees and shrubs are recycled into the garden, except for the thorny type, which are sent away as green waste.

You can also use compost as mulch, or gravel, pebbles, pine bark, in fact just about any type of wood or organic matter.    Even newspaper can be used, but doesn't look the best unless it's hidden under a layer of wood, or leaf litter.   I've even heard of people using coffee grounds from coffee shops!