This may seem like a really dumb question, but what's the real difference between compost and mulch? I'm new to the organic terminology, although I've always avoided chemical treatments.

While I've been reading this forum, I realize I don't know the difference between compost and mulch.
- Compost is what you mix into the soil before planting something new?
- Mulch is organic matter on topsoil?

I have well-established raspberry and strawberry patches. They have a light cover of shredded wood from the big home renovation stores. Do they put chemicals in that? Is this not good for the soil? Should I just stick with chopped up maple leaves and grass clippings? What about compost -- should I put a thin layer around the plants, before the leaves and grass? If so, how often?

By the way, I just have to share -- I have a neighbor who is compost crazy. He takes all the maple leaves I can't use, the grass weeds I pull from the beds, the dandilions, etc. and puts them in one of two huge bins on the alley. In spring, he turns over his grass cover crop and grows all sorts of food in the entire back yard. I'm not nearly that ambitious, but I admire what he does. To any of you that do the same thing, kudos!!!

-Learning in the Lilac City (Zone 5)

compost is decomposed organic matter.
you can mix & pile it up to decompose then spread it on top, as a mulch or dig it in.

mulch is anything you put on your soil to cover the bare ground, retain moisture & keep weeds down. organic mulch will turn into compost, but a very thin layer on top of your soil.

you can mulch w/ compost or you can mulch w/ fresh stuff like straw or newspaper. usually you would mean anything organic, but some people use plastic. plastic has the down side that it can heat your soil too much & can deprive your soil of oxygen that all those little microbes & worms need. on the + side it will warm your soil in the winter & move you sprouting season up a few weeks. if you get too much water i supose you could use it to divert water from you plants & out of your garden.

& boy howdy that neighbor would never get any of my leaves!!! we usually are scraping to get all we can!