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Mulch is any kind of ground cover used around plants. Common mulches are wood chips, straw, grass clippings and stones. Mulch is used to keep the soil cool, to reduce evaporation so that more water can get to the plants and to reduce the number of weeds around the plant so there is not as much competition with the plant.

Your mulch should be aged before using for several reasons and yes, bugs are one of them. Fresh wood mulch also leaches a lot of nitrogen from the soil because nitrogen is necessary to the decay process.

This depends on the type of mulch you are using. For instance, straw can be spread around plants anywhere from 8-12 inches while shredded bark may need only about 4-6 inches.

This is a highly debated subject and pretty much depends on the soil, region, and plants. Pine needles are naturally acidic in nature. As they decompose, which is a slow process, additional acid is added to the soil. However, this may not necessarily be a dramatic increase. Since pine needles are acidic, it goes without saying that acid-loving plants (like azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, blueberries, etc.) thrive with this type of mulch. Other plants may not respond as well; therefore, pine mulch may not be suitable. So the answer to your question is basically that pine mulch does in fact affect soil pH, but is dependent on the current soil conditions.

For some kinds of trees and plants, mulching can help protect roots and tender growth. It is particularly helpful in protecting newly planted or young trees and plants.

Full plant mulching, where the whole plant is covered, generally this is done with dry leaves or straw held in place with burlap or chicken wire. This type of mulching is normally only done for newly planted, young trees or for semi-tender perennials that might not survive a particularly bad winter.

Root mulching is normally done with wood chip mulch which you can buy at the store. This is done to protect the roots of plants so that if you have a bad winter, they can die back to the ground, but can regrow from the roots.

Most the vast majority of plants in your yard, mulching is not necessary, but if you have some new plantings or if you have tried repeatedly to grow that should survive but does not, you may want to try mulching.

While it should be ok, it might be better to store it in an enclosed area where it will remain dry (out of the weather) until spring.