No matter how large or small your garden is, there never seems to be enough time to do the garden chores and have time left over to simply enjoy the garden. There has been much written in the past decade about low-maintenance gardening. While talking to gardeners (and those who consider themselves non-gardeners, yet are homeowners who grow plants or keep up their property), I learned that the term low maintenance is truly subjective. To some it means a garden that only requires an hour or two of work once a week; to others it means a garden that requires little or no watering and/or weeding.

The single, most timesaving device for any gardener is using mulch around the plants. Mulches perform a number of functions. A layer of mulch several inches thick provides a barrier to weeds - most weed seeds in the ground do not have sufficient light and air to grow through the mulch, and the ground is protected by potential weed seeds dropped by birds or animals on bare soil. An organic mulch (such as chopped leaves, pine needles, leaf mold, or shredded bark) acts to conserve water - it stays moist, keeping the ground from drying, especially in the heat of summer. Use an organic mulch and you get a bonus - as the mulch decomposes, nutrients are added to the soil. A mulch of gravel or small stones is a good choice around plants that like to be dry.

The choice of mulch and the time of year you apply it affects the soil temperature. In general, a light colored mulch reflects light and heat upwards toward the plant, while a dark mulch absorbs heat to the soil level. A layer of black plastic applied in late winter or early spring warms the soil, especially on a raised bed, to give you a jump start on planting. Apply a winter mulch too early in the fall, while the ground is still warm, and you insulate the soil, keeping it warm. Instead, wait until the ground is cold, or frozen to mulch and that thick layer will help prevent thawing and heaving of the soil as temperatures rise above and below freezing.