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Talkback: How to apply mulch
I have recently moved and now have a tiny garden, but big enough for a small lawn and plant borders. There are established plants in it, but I need to dig out some rampant plants to make room for others and also feed the soil, or just improve it.
I have read things saying don't mulch in autumn as rain will wash nutrients away, and other articles saying you should mulch in autumn! Also, I am not clear - if I just add fresh compost bought from a garden centre is that enough to help soil, or do I need to mulch as well?
Any advice gratefully received, thanks!
I have read things saying don't mulch in autumn as rain will wash nutrients away, and other articles saying you should mulch in autumn! Also, I am not clear - if I just add fresh compost bought from a garden centre is that enough to help soil, or do I need to mulch as well?
Any advice gratefully received, thanks!
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"Mulching" is simply placing a layer of matter on top of the soil and is done for two reasons, firstly to reduce water loss by evaporation and secondly to reduce weed seed germination.
However, if the mulch is organic matter, a third benefit comes into play in that worms will pull the mulch down into the soil and improve its structure and fertility. Multi-purpose compost is as good as anything else in this respect.
You can mulch at any time you like, but if you have clay soil which you have dug over to allow the Winter frosts to help break up the clods, you would not lay a mulch over it as that would prevent the frost from doing the job. You should also avoid mulching dry soil as it will make it harder for the rain the penetrate, so only mulch soil which is already in a normally moist condition.
Until digested and excreted by worms, mulches add little in terms of nutrients so add fertilizers as a separate task, as and when needed.
Hope that makes thing clearer for you, Marigold.
Thank you Bob, that is helpful, I think I just need multi purpose compost as you describe.
I'm using grow-bags, seems the most economical way to go (five for £7 from B&Q)... as Bob says, the aim is that the organic matter will be worked into the soil over the winter.
Some garden centres and DIY stores sell off bags pf seed and planting compost cheap at the end of the season and some local councils sell community made compost from green waste collected over the year.
In order to improve your soil, whether clay or sand or loam or chalk, you can simply spread a 2 to 3 inch layer of such organic material over all the beds once the herbaceous perennials have died down, annual plants and weeds have been removed and any bulbs planted.
It can be done any time in autumn and early winter and preferable after the soil has had a good soaking from heavy rain but not when it is frozen. The worms will work it in for you over winter. Do this every year and the claggiest fo clay soils will improve without all the heavy digging and the lightest of sandy soils will improve in fertility and moisture retention.
Thank you all of you, this has been very helpful, you have given me a lot of information to go on, and I feel much more confident about what to do, but just one more thing - it seems that you just lay on the compost over damp soil you have just dug over, you don't dig the compost in - is that correct? You can add something like chicken poo (can't remember what its called) after that and then water it in? Thank you again
Thanks.