Living mulch
![Living mulch planted to retard weed growth between corn rows](/Images/godic/202501/24/Living_mulch_planted_to_keep_down_weeds_between_crop_rows4157.jpg")
In agriculture, a living mulch is a cover crop interplanted or undersown with a main crop, and intended to serve the functions of a mulch, such as weed suppression and regulation of soil temperature. Living mulches grow for a long time with the main crops, whereas cover crops are incorporated into the soil or killed with herbicides.