In an effort to increase the sustainability of UC Davis gardens and landscapes, the Arboretum and Public Garden Mulch Squad is a new program that expands and maintains the use of wood-chip mulches on campus. Mulching preserves soil moisture, smothers weeds, and slowly adds nutrients to the soil; all of these ecological services provided by mulching can dramatically reduce the use of chemical herbicides, irrigation water, and chemical fertilizers. This team also expands opportunities for student leadership and teamwork by giving participating students the opportunity to learn and lead hands-on sustainability work, and as part of the Learning by Leading program, be able to connect and learn with other students involved in environmental sustainability and education projects.