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What is a mulch

01:00 Mon 19th Mar 2001 | Home & Garden

A. A mulch is a layer of material spread direct onto the ground around the base of plants. It can take the form of well-rotted compost or manure, bark chippings, leaf mould, old straw or even pebbles or gravel.

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Q. What are the benefits of mulching

A. Mulching is a much under-employed gardening technique. It is usually associated with keeping weeds down by literally burying them, denying them light and preventing them germinating, and with conserving water, trapping moisture into the soil around the plant and preventing it evaporating.

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However, there are other benefits. A mulch will also retain heat, keeping up soil temperatures and warding off frost. A good layer of well rotted organic mulch applied in early spring will produce heat as it breaks down and help warm up the soil, persuading your plants it may be time to get ready for action.

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Organic mulches are also good for the soil. As they break down they add nutrients to the soil and improve its structure.

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Q. When and how should we do it

A. Mulching is as easy as filling your wheelbarrow with your chosen material and then throwing it around the base of plants and onto borders. Generally a layer of around four inches will be more than adequate.

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Late Autumn is often considered the best time of year to apply a mulch because weeds have stopped growing and this new layer will prevent them making a comeback in spring. However, mid to late spring also has its advantages. We've talked about keeping the heat in, but mulches also help keep root system from getting too hot in summer.

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A Spring mulch will cut down the need for watering in warmer weather to a minimum, particularly handy if your planning to go away.

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Q. It sounds like a good idea. Is there anything you shouldn't do

A. There is a risk of introducing pests or diseases. This is particularly true with freshly chipped bark and woodchip if you don't know its source.

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Potential infections like the dreaded honey fungus feed on dead woody material and once you've got it in the garden it is very difficult to get rid of. To avoid this it is always safest to either compost the material for a year first or make sure you buy from a safe source such as a garden centre.

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Tom Gard

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