n.
Pronunciation: ' m ə lch
Function: noun
Etymology: perhaps irregular from English dialect melch soft, mild
Date: 1657
: a protective covering (as of sawdust, compost, or paper) spread or left on the ground to reduce evaporation, maintain even soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds, enrich the soil, or keep fruit (as strawberries) clean
– mulch transitive verb