We’re always looking for ways to cut down on the hours that we spend doing yard work, so that we have more time to enjoy our backyards, patio furniture, and picnic tables. At the same time, we want to keep our lawns and gardens beautiful and thriving. It’s an ongoing battle, in which mulch is one of our most useful and effective weapons. Besides saving us time, it also helps to conserve water, as it holds moisture in, and slows its rate of evaporation from the soil. Mulch also enhances the aesthetic appeal of our gardens, by adding color, dimension, and texture.When choosing from among the different types of mulch, consider attractiveness, durability, performance, and composition, in relation to the various nutritional needs of your plants. Among organic mulches, those made from shredded and chipped tree bark are the most popular. Cedar, redwood, and other hardwoods, are some of the longest lasting mulches, as they decompose more slowly, and are less hospitable to mold than are softer woods, such as pine. They also look lovely in beds of display flowers, or around ornamental shrubs and trees. Because they are denser and heavier, they can also endure heavy rains and high winds without blowing or washing away. These types of mulches are perfect for use on slopes or in areas that are subject to excess splashing or dripping water.Grass clippings and leaves can also be used as mulches, but if they have been treated with weed killer or fertilizer, they can hurt, or even kill, other plants. They should not be used on top of plastic or fabric weed barriers, as they break down very quickly; and if they lie on top of the barrier after they decay, they may actually encourage the growth of weeds. Grass and leaves may also emit an unpleasant odor as they decompose.Cocoa hulls have the opposite effect, as they release a sweet aroma after a good rain. That’s a wonderful bonus, as they, along with cottonseed and peanut hulls, make great mulches for flowerbeds. Compost nourishes the soil, and can be applied in thin layers, and topped with wood chips, or other types of mulch. Fresh wood chips, however, can take nitrogen from the soil, as can straw and sawdust, so you should compost them for about six months before you use them. For good measure, you can also use high-nitrogen fertilizer to supplement the soil.For effective and ornamental mineral mulches, you can use many types of rock, including volcanic rock, plain gravel, washed gravel, and multi-colored stone. These can be used as permanent mulch in established beds, but can damage young or sensitive roots and foliage, and can retain heat past the point that some plants can tolerate. Rock mulch should always be used with a weed barrier.Once you have your yard looking picture-perfect, you’ll need an equally gorgeous picnic table to complement it. AllPicnicTables.com offers decay-resistant cedar, pine, oak, teak, and cherry tables, as well as maintenance-free aluminum, thermo-plastic coated steel, polywood, and vinyl tables that are available in a full spectrum of spectacular colors.AllPicnicTables.com also has design consultants and customer service professionals who are always ready to answer your questions about picnic tables. To contact them, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail contact@allpicnictables.com.