How to Force Bulbs to Bloom Early How to Care for Container-
Grown Vegetables and Flowers Choosing Bulbs for Shady Gardens
How to Choose Mulch for Your Flower Garden  Mulching flower beds
is a good gardening habit. Mulch inhibits weed growth, holds in
soil moisture, and moderates soil-temperature fluctuations. In
cold-winter areas, mulching protects plant roots from winter
cold and helps prevent frost-heaving, in which plants are
literally pushed out of the ground by the natural expansion and
contraction of the soil as it cools off and heats up. In hot-
summer areas, it helps keep plant roots cooler  Some mulches are
free, right in your own backyard; you can purchase others
locally. Experiment to find out what you and your plants prefer.
The following table provides the basic information you need to
know about some of the more popular mulch options.  Comparing
Mulching Options Type of Mulch Advantages Concerns Grass
clippings Is cheap, readily available, and easy to apply Decays
quickly, so you have to repleni