Where & How Should Mulch be applied?
Apply mulch annual and perennial planting beds, as well as the surface of container plantings. Cover entire tree and shrub planting beds, or make mulch rings at least 3 feet wide around each plant in lawns. Keep mulch a few inches away from stems, crown and trunks to prevent rot and pest damage.
A good source of home grown Mulch or Compost, also called Humus, is your old leaf pile and shredded small branches, if properly turned over periodically. The application can repair an of balanced ph level of your soil and stimulate tremendous growth of your plant material.