Mulching is an enormously important part of soil management. It helps to even out the soil temperature, minimise weed growth and reduce loss of soil moisture. With droughts a feature of the Australian climate, soil water management is critical. Overall, people are becoming more aware of the value of mulching to optimise watering, the retention of moisture in the soil and controlling run-off. In fact, mulching can prevent evaporation from the soil by up to 70%! The break down of organic mulch also releases nutrients into the soil to maximise fertility. Environmental factors aside, more efficient use of water can result in significant cost savings as well. There are many different types of mulches available, and it is important that you choose a mulch that is appropriate for you specific needs. But as this post is about Tea Tree mulch, here is some information that may help you to decide whether it will be useful for you. Tea Tree mulch is made from Melaleuca plant residue after the tea tree oil has been extracted. It breaks down reasonably slowly and therefore lasts for quite a while. The best way to get your garden thriving and maximise the warmth and rain provided by Mother Nature, is to mulch. There are so many types of mulch to choose from, and it is important that you pick one that is best for your particular project. Unscreened sand is soil that has been excavated from dig outs around the Sunshine Coast, and is ideal to use for levelling or filling in low areas. This soil is quite clean, but has not been broken down or sifted in any way and may have roots, weeds, sticks and rocks in it. Hurray for the rain! And now we can talk about rain gardens, and how they can make an attractive decorative addition to your garden, as well as conserve precious water.