Should I use mulch in an outdoor container garden?

Question

It will be partial shade, partial sun and will contain flowers and foliage.

Answer 1

I mulch everything (I have a 1000 square foot garden plus many containers), for two reasons. Mulching helps the soil to maintain water and the mulch slowly breaks down providing slow release nitrogen in an organic form which does not cause the soil to dry out like the desert the way in-organic nitrogen fertilizers do.

Answer 2

And one other real good reason I mulch is that it keeps the soil temperature about 10 degrees F. cooler,.and plants love that especially here in the south.

Answer 3

Yes, mulching is fine for use in container plants too. It helps retain moisture and insulates both plant roots and soil.