Mulches provide aesthetic, economic and environmental benefits to urban landscapes. Mulching is especially useful in the establishment
of trees in landscapes that receive minimal care, such as restoration sites. In general, mulches improve soil health, creating healthy
populations of plants and associated animals. These biodiverse, stable landscapes are more resistant to stress, are more aesthetically
pleasing, require fewer applications of pesticides and fertilizers, and are ultimately more sustainable than those without mulch cover.
All mulches are not created equally, however, and this review compares the costs and benefits of landscape mulches as reported in the
scientific literature. It also presents real and perceived problems associated with various landscape mulches.