Yes, that sounds like a quote from Hamlet. Perhaps if Shakespear were into gardening he could well have said it. I could visualise Hamlet holding a handful of mulch and say the words "To mulch or not to mulch, that is the question". Maybe I could write an environment friendly rewrite of Hamlet?

But what mulch is best for your garden needs? It is important to remember that there is no one mulch that fits all types of garden. There are a range of mulch that can be specifically useful for specific gardens and plants.

Organic:
There are plenty of choices to pick from. Such as;

Compost can protect many plants while providing needed nutrients. It just needs to be kept in mind that the make up of the compost will affect plants. A quality compost mix purchased from a local nurdery will work best for your garden.

Pebbles and Gravels can be an easy way to protect top soil. Just keep in mind that over time soil will enevidably rise up or become layered over the Pebbles or gravel; meaning the needs to clean up once a year.

Straw. Hay or Sugar Cain can add nutrients to the soil while protecting the top soil from erosion. They will need to be removed and replaced once a year but will be a a good strategy.

Bark Chips are a common is a common way people cover soil and seek to protect plants. Gardeners need to be aware of the type of woodchips used. Making sure they are sourced locallyt. As well as making sure they are clean and free of fungus or chemicals.

Inorganic:
Black Plastic Weedmat is not one that I personally like. This form of cover has too much of a negative impact on the health of the soil. It does help prevent many weeds from growing, yet it stops the soil from breathing and can cause many problems with the health of plants.

In the end it will be important for gardeners to consider what plants they have, what the seasonal weather conditions are where they live and what would work best for their unique garden. Not all mulches are good for all gardens. So get nto work and do some research.

Happy gardening.
Michael