mulch
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
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mulches,
present (3rd person singular)
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mulched,
past participle, past
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mulching
present participle
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
mulchsimple
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mulchessimple
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have mulchedperfect
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has mulchedperfect
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am mulchingprogressive
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are mulchingprogressive
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is mulchingprogressive
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have been mulchingperfect progressive
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has been mulchingperfect progressive
Past
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mulchedsimple
-
had mulchedperfect
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was mulchingprogressive
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were mulchingprogressive
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had been mulchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of mulch
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
Explanation
In a garden or on a farm, mulch is an insulating and protective material that's spread over the soil. Mulch is made of organic stuff like bark or leaves. Mulch is almost magical in a flower or vegetable garden, keeping plants warm enough during the winter and cool enough during the summer. Mulch also suppresses the growth of weeds and encourages earthworms to burrow in the soil, which helps keep plants healthy. It also keeps the earth moist, by blocking some rainwater from evaporating. The word mulch comes from the Old English molsh, "soft and moist."
Vocabulary lists containing mulch
Can You Dig It? Words for Dirt and Soil
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dirty Words: The Language of Gardening
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Hate U Give
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
When Percy was a puppy, he ate mulch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 2026
Alternatively, some charities offer collection for a donation or local garden centres may chip up your old trees for mulch.
From BBC ● Dec. 17, 2025
In recent months they have provided medical assistance, picked up trash, spread mulch, painted fences, and helped elderly locals who fell off their bicycles, according to National Guard officials.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025
Troops have carried out a variety of tasks, from patrolling the National Mall and Metro stations to picking up trash, removing graffiti, spreading mulch and painting fencing.
From Barron's ● Nov. 26, 2025
Dislodging with their tongues the sodden yellow mulch that stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Despite the garden’s neat appearance, Robbins notes that he mulches quite a bit and allows the leaves to decompose to prevent water evaporation and add nutrients to the soil.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2022
And, finally, mulch helps to reduce soil erosion, and biodegradable mulches enrich the soil.
From Salon ● May 2, 2022
Microclimates can be created with rock walls and mulches, buildings and fences, and windbreaks created with plants.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 12, 2022
Ballard; it mulches mythos on mythos in distinctly Smith-like shapes.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 15, 2021
Autumn rolled over the countryside as they moved through it: They were now pitching the tent on mulches of fallen leaves.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
That means ensuring they are well watered, properly mulched, kept safe from harm from construction projects or digging, and are treated for potential pest infestations, says Brunner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026
A small team are working through the tributes, which includes taking the plastic wrapping off the bouquets of flowers so they be mulched and spread at Osbourne's grave.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2025
They then sheet mulched the front yard — smothering it in wet cardboard — and waited for three months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2024
In between the stone-like mulched areas and along walkways and drives was a shimmery green ground cover, called Silver Carpet, that I became obsessed with.
From Salon ● Apr. 15, 2023
Every mouthful she ate was displayed to her admiring younger cousins, half-chewed, mulched, lying on her tongue like fresh vomit.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Scattering straw between vines, known as mulching, is not new, but what has changed is its purpose: from improving general soil health to helping vineyards withstand a warming climate.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
Despite that, troops are expected to remain in the nation's capital for the foreseeable future, and many of them can be seen around the city helping with trash collection and mulching.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2025
As the Washington Post explained the need for military-grade mulching:
From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2025
There was a motorized combine for mulching the corn, a wagon to catch it and another wagon to relieve that one.
From New York Times ● Nov. 23, 2024
She bustles about, uprooting dead plants and weeds, and mulching new life into the tired dirt.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
