Mulch can do so much to make a garden look fine, but it's so expensive! I've found that a request on your local FreeCycle group (www.freecycle.org), will work wonders. There is almost always someone in your area who has had a tree cut down and chipped and wants to get rid of the chippings.
I live near a lumber mill that lets me get a pickup load of mulch for free. The decomposed bark does need some fertilizer added to it if you are going to plant directly in it.