Remember the garden out front with the mulch for protection?
It is the largest bed of the three on the front of the house. But they all had the same problems, in varying degrees.
What problems, you ask?
First, the soil is clay. I have been amending it as I add plants to it, but that is a slow process.
Second, the ground level of the dirt is slightly higher than the surrounding concrete and lawn. Mulching alone will not remedy the lack of water retention – these flower beds also need a “retaining wall.” Without it, the water will flow freely down the driveway of this small bed, featured in the gallery below.
I used a border purchased on Amazon and some cypress mulch from Home Depot. Here are the results, start to finish:
Let the edge preparation begin! 
Trenching part one done! 
Ready to add the border, shown in background. 
Bordered up! 
Dirt backfilled into the garden bed. 
Cleaned up kinda ok. 
Time to get some water in here! 
Water retention success! 
Mulched for protection! 
Mid-October garden view. 
Small bed next to large bed, same treatment.
Mulch, to put it simply, is protection for roots and growth, and a defense against invasions of disease or competing weeds that want to creep in and take over the space. There is a lot to chew on from that one sentence, but I’m just going to say: add the protection of that water-conserving border and you get scriptures like these to refer to:
“But you, Lord, are a shield around me. . .“
“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.“
If you wanted to stop reading right there, that would be fine and I completely understand. We need the protection of the Lord now more than ever. In the links above, there is the option to open up to each full chapter. I would encourage you to do so if you need some more comforting words on his protection.
~Mulch for protection can also be like friendship. ~
Like mulch, a good friendship can:
- Prevent soil backsplash onto the plants, helping to minimize fungal and bacterial diseases.
When the storms of life feel overwhelming, a good friend can give a fresh perspective to help minimize the damage to our hearts and provide an outlet where we can be authentic without toxicity. Then, we can go back to the storm and properly navigate and take necessary action. This type of assistance for one another comes from a love that is genuine, not insincere. Much of Ephesians 4 and Romans 12 can help us with that.
- Reduce weed growth.
We can also get quite comfortable in the seasons of plenty! Then we may not pay attention to the life-suckers that are creeping or even forcing their way into our lives. Friends can give gentle or strong reminders to keep us on track. Proverbs 27:9 says the sweetness of a friend’s counsel makes the heart glad! Remember:
“The right word at the right time
is like a custom-made piece of jewelry,
And a wise friend’s timely reprimand
is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.”
Those same friends will keep at it when the weeds come back – because a true friend’s love is that deep.
- Protect roots from heat during summer and from cold during winter.
Friends who know you – I mean friends, not acquaintances or colleagues – can really see the full picture of how life is impacting you. Summer and winter can be symbolic or literal: impacting your health, your mental well-being, your emotional state, your joy or lack of it, and your capacity to care and/or help. Back to Romans 12, this time with emphasis on verse 15:
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.”
We do this in sincerity. Because we know and love one another.
- Break down over time and help to improve the condition of the soil.
This is a funny one. Because it’s not the friendship that breaks down, as mulch does. It’s the resonance, the fragrance, of the friendship – that permeates your very being when you remember times spent together. Good times or bad times. Memories of how you laughed together and the joy those memories bring. This includes memories of the spicier times, moments where comfort was required, and times where all was silent. There is so much to draw from in a good friendship, to nourish the soil of your soul. The Bible says a brother is born for adversity, but it also states better a neighbor nearby, than a brother far away. True friendship is love. It is not always comfortable or fun, but it is essential.
I have since learned, from Gardening Know How, that some mulch types, such as cypress, cedar, or pinewood chips do an excellent job of repelling ticks, gnats, and fleas. Hooray me for picking up cypress mulch!
I bought the cypress mulch for protection because it is:
- Authentic: I preferred the no-dye factor as an eco-friendly option.
- True: Even without the dye it was pleasant to the eye, and the hue was long-lasting.
- Valuable Partner: The cost was relatively low for the total amount of garden I wanted to cover.
- Faithful: I really liked that this mulch wouldn’t shift around on me throughout the changing seasons.
Jesus, the solid rock of my salvation, has called me to be his friend. John 15:9-17
There is no one more faithful than he is.
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