What are soil covering materials?

Soil covering materials consists of dry materials which can be scattered well and is extremely suitable for throwing down widespread round the plants. Advantages of the use of soil covering materials are:

The weed growth is restrained. Weed needs moisture and light to develop itself. In the dark under the soil covering materials weed might germinate, but can't develop itself.

The evaporation of the water in the soil is restricted. At the same time, the soil covering materials retains water.

Finally soil covering materials decay and can be used subsequently as soil improvers.