Why mulch?

You might have heard the advice to mulch your borders between autumn and spring. If you’re new to the concept, here’s why it’s a good idea, plus some top tips for making the most of your mulching.

What is mulching?
Mulching is applying organic matter on top of your soil to help improve it.

How mulching helps

It supresses weeds
A bit like putting a big soft blanket over your soil, mulching unplanted soil means no light can get to weed seeds which might be lying dormant underground.

As long as your mulch doesn’t contain weed seeds, it can stop annual weeds from germinating.

It keeps moisture in
It’s no secret that our summers are getting warmer and drier. Mulching helps your soil to hold onto its moisture for longer.

It’s a particularly good idea to apply mulch around newly planted trees, shrubs and perennial plants to help them get off to the best start.

It helps plants become stronger
We’re learning really exciting things about what goes on under our soil. We now know that many plants, shrubs and trees ‘talk’ to one another and even share nutrients between themselves! This is only possible with healthy soil that’s disturbed as little as possible.

Mulch applied to the surface is drawn down into the soil by worms and other soil-dwelling creatures without the hassle of needing to dig anything in. This helps to build connections between plants and the soil, ultimately leading to more resilient plants.

It improves soil
If your soil is on the tricky side – either too wet, dry, heavy or light, mulching help your soil become more balanced over time.

It won’t completely transform your ground, but if you’re willing to be patient, your soil will thank you for the effort and become more forgiving to a wider range of plants.

Types of mulch
Mulch is organic matter, meaning there are lots of natural things within it to help improve your soil. There are a few different types:

Well-rotted manure
For example horse or cow manure. If you live nearby, it's worth asking stables if they can give you some.

Store fresh manure for at least 6 months before applying it to your soil or it can burn your plants.

You can also buy well-rotted manure from garden centres and nurseries. Don’t worry, well-rotted manure doesn’t smell anything like fresh manure!

Leafmould
If you’re lucky enough to have a deciduous tree in your garden, don’t throw away its leaves when they drop in the autumn.

Gather them up and stuff them into a wire frame or bin bag with holes in the bottom.

Store outside for at least 18 months – ideally a couple of years. You’ll get leafmould - the most beautiful, crumbly mulch full of nutrients and goodness for your soil.

Own homemade compost
If you compost your garden waste, this makes a fantastic mulch.

As it’s made from material that’s from your garden, it’ll be packed with nutrients and mycorrhizal goodness that thrive in your garden’s unique conditions – perfect for your plants.

Council green waste compost
If you have a big area to cover, it might make more sense to get your mulch in bulk.

Your local council may offer a green waste service that offers big amounts of compost at a very affordable price.

Make sure any waste has been ‘screened’ – in other words, checked for weed seeds and other nasties. It’s worth sieving green waste compost before applying it as sometimes small amounts of plastic can slip through.

How to apply mulch

Apply between October and March
The soil is less active during the winter and early spring, and there are fewer plants to work around.

Don’t apply when the ground is frozen as it can trap the cold underneath.

You can apply it over any emerging shoots from spring bulbs – they should be strong enough to push up through.

Don’t dig it in
In the past it was common to dig in anything you added to the top of your soil.

We’re now learning that there’s no need, and in fact it can cause more harm than good by disturbing plants’ underground connections.

Worms and other creatures will do all the work for you, and prevent you accidentally compacting the soil by overworking it.

Apply at least a couple of inches of mulch
Mulch needs to be applied thickly to have an effect – at least a couple of inches and ideally more like 3 – 4 inches.

If you don’t have much mulch to work with, it’s better do a small area properly than spread it too thinly.

Stock up on manure at our plant nursery and ask our friendly, knowledgeable staff for more advice on all things mulch.