Host Richard Hentschel talks about the uses of mulches in the home landscape. Mulches benefit the plants and the microbial like within the soil. Organic matter provides the very needed carbon component for the microbes in the soil profile. this time of year mulches serve to protecty new root systems of transplanted trees, shrubs, evergreens and perennials. Mulches as they break down release many nutirents into the soil that are not available through a synthetic fertilizer