mulch

noun

ˈməlch How to pronounce mulch (audio)
ˈməlsh
: a protective covering (as of sawdust, compost, or paper) spread or left on the ground to reduce evaporation, maintain even soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds, enrich the soil, or keep fruit (such as strawberries) clean
mulch transitive verb

Examples of mulch in a Sentence

She spread some mulch around the plants.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once the machine has sucked in the shade-giving limbs and age-ringed trunk, a new development rises from the mulch. — Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026 Add a 2- or 3-inch layer of mulch to keep the soil moist and protect your shrubs from harsh winter weather. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2026 Fertilized queen bumblebees burrow just a few inches into the soil or hide under dense leaf mulch to survive the freezing months ahead, to lay eggs in the following spring. — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 With wet leaves, dry leaves, and pine needles shrunk into tiny cuttings, this electric shredder is able to convert 18 bags of yard waste into one bag of nutrient-heavy mulch that can feed your gardens and landscaping. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mulch

Word History

Etymology

perhaps irregular from English dialect melch soft, mild

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mulch was in 1657

Phrases Containing mulch

Rhymes for mulch

See All Rhymes for mulch

Browse Nearby Words

mulberry whelk
mulch
mulcher
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mulch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mulch. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mulch

1 of 2 noun
ˈməlch
: a covering (as of straw or sawdust) spread over the ground to protect the roots of plants from heat, cold, or evaporation, prevent soil loss, control weeds, enrich the soil, or keep fruit (as strawberries) clean

mulch

2 of 2 verb
: to cover with mulch

More from Merriam-Webster on mulch

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mulch

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