Turns out, there's more to it than simply knowing the best type of mulch for your garden. As you've probably learned from experience, mulch can get tossed around, clumped together, and compacted by rain. Whether it's a full rainy season or just a random summer storm, it often leaves the mulch looking a bit unsightly. But it's an important step because compacted mulch doesn't just look messy. Raking it gets that nice even layer back into place if it's been tossed around, so the mulch can do its job properly.