mulch

Probably from Middle English melsche, molsh (“soft”), from Old English melsċ, milisċ (“mellow; mild; sweet”, literally “honeyed”), probably from Proto-Germanic *mili (“honey”). Compare Icelandic milska (“a honeyed beverage”).

• IPA^(key): /mʌlt͡ʃ/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌltʃ

mulch (countable and uncountable, plural mulches)

1. (agriculture, horticulture) Any material used to cover the top layer of soil to protect, insulate, or decorate it, or to discourage weeds or retain moisture.

   An organic mulch is a mulch made of natural substances such as leaves or grass clippings.

   • 2022 March 9, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Salisbury crash: slippery rails caused by autumn leaves”, in RAIL, number 952, page 12:

     An interim report by investigators from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch found extensive evidence of crushed leaf mulch on the railhead at many sites on the approach to Salisbury Tunnel Junction.

• inorganic mulch
• living mulch
• mulch depth
• organic mulch

• compost
• humus

mulch (third-person singular simple present mulches, present participle mulching, simple past and past participle mulched)

1. (agriculture) To apply mulch.

   Mulch your vegetable garden to retain moisture and keep weeds down.

2. (agriculture) To turn into mulch.

   I decided to mulch the grass clippings.

• mulcher
• mulching mower