The mulch definition not according to Mulch It Now. The definition we found today about mulch "is any material, usually organic, that is spread on the ground to protect the soil and the roots of plants from the effects of soil crusting, erosion, or freezing; it is also used to retard the growth of weeds" leaves allot to be desired.

The definition continues: "A mulch may be made of materials such as straw, sawdust, grass clippings, peat moss, leaves, or paper" but they forgot on the organic side to add wood chips (the side product of tree removal, utility line maintenance, ice and wind storm cleanup); a major source of base material in and around the Northern Hemisphere.

A very sore subject but another organic source of mulch is pine needles sold by chain stores like Wal-Mart, Lowe's and others, which its harvests is devastation the environmental balance along the coast line of Louisiana and other gulf states of the USA. Manure available in overabundance is not mentioned, another potentially environmental problem is another major source of base material for both compost - topdressing businesses and the mulch and mulching industry.

On the inorganic side they left out rubber and plastic. Rubber is promoted as the dust free mulch product especially used in and around playgrounds, horse arenas, dressage rinks, topdressing material for heavily trafficked compacted grass areas on sports fields and parks; but a very big potential environmental danger because Zinc is being released in amounts unhealthy to plants and humans. We would like that the academics in The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2007 get together to rewrite The mulch definition not according to Mulch It Now.

A.v.Bubenberg