mulch

[ muhlch ]

noun

1. a covering, as of straw, compost, or plastic sheeting, spread on the ground around plants to prevent excessive evaporation or erosion, enrich the soil, inhibit weed growth, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with mulch.

mulch

/ mʌltʃ /

noun

1. half-rotten vegetable matter, peat, etc, used to prevent soil erosion or enrich the soil

verb

1. tr to cover (the surface of land) with mulch

Other Words From

• non·mulched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mulch¹

1650–60; noun use of obsolete mulch (adj.), Middle English molsh soft, Old English myl ( i ) sc mellow; cognate with dialectal German molsch soft, overripe

Word History and Origins

Origin of mulch¹

C17: from obsolete mulch soft; related to Old English mylisc mellow; compare dialect German molsch soft, Latin mollis soft

Example Sentences

The blaze was 17% contained by Saturday morning as crews were dousing mulch fires in agricultural land north of the 118 Freeway just a few miles east from the fire’s origin in the Somis neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times

The embers ignited everything in their path: trees, fences and the new plants and bark mulch Phil and Margaret had added just a few days before.

From Los Angeles Times

Solutions gain movement when community members like me tend the mulch.

From Los Angeles Times

His dad was inspired by the square-foot gardening method, which plants vegetables and herbs close together, maximizing your space and shading the soil, creating a living mulch that helps conserve water.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet if arborists use the chipped trees as mulch to support gardens, new trees or other plant life, they can still keep the carbon out of the air.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• compost
• manure