Your Garden Questions Answered
Episode: # 11 16/06/07
Presenter: Nigel Ruck
All keen gardeners know only too well the benefits that mulch provides to plants and the garden in general; in fact nearly everyone by now is aware to some degree that mulching is a good thing. That is not surprising either, because after all it has been rammed down our throats through gardening shows and magazines for a long time and rightly so, because it is such an important part of successful gardening.
Let it be known that mulching is not a man made concept, far from it, plants have naturally been providing their own mulch ever since they have been around, which is very long time!
Dead leaves and bark that fall to the ground, form a natural layer of mulch which plays a vital role in the existence of not only plants, but our entire planet! A phenomenon well documented by none other than Sir David Attenborough, a man who certainly knows his stuff!
Used correctly, mulch retains moisture in the soil, reducing water loss through evaporation by up to 80%. It also acts as an insulator, maintaining a more even soil temperature for root systems, reducing stress. It also suppresses weed growth, disperses water evenly into the soil, reducing erosion, releases nutrients and encourages earthworm activity, and adds to the overall aesthetics of your garden, often being a feature in its own right.
The two main categories of mulch are organic, with materials like wood chips, bark and cane, that decompose over time, releasing nutrients, but will need topping up. Landscape suppliers sell a range of different options, or you can make your own with a mulcher.
Inorganic mulches are materials like pebbles, gravel and slate. These don’t break down like organic mulches do, but can create exciting design effects. Japanese and contemporary landscapes often use inorganic mulches for example.
The depth of mulch you apply depends on the type your using, as a general rule, 75-100mm should suffice, however finer mulches can be thinner, and coarser mulches thicker.
Whatever you use, avoid building up around plant stems, as this restricts air flow, and can cause rot. Just roll the mulch down from around the base of the plant; it is as easy as that!
Presenter: Nigel Ruck
All keen gardeners know only too well the benefits that mulch provides to plants and the garden in general; in fact nearly everyone by now is aware to some degree that mulching is a good thing. That is not surprising either, because after all it has been rammed down our throats through gardening shows and magazines for a long time and rightly so, because it is such an important part of successful gardening.
Let it be known that mulching is not a man made concept, far from it, plants have naturally been providing their own mulch ever since they have been around, which is very long time!
Dead leaves and bark that fall to the ground, form a natural layer of mulch which plays a vital role in the existence of not only plants, but our entire planet! A phenomenon well documented by none other than Sir David Attenborough, a man who certainly knows his stuff!
Used correctly, mulch retains moisture in the soil, reducing water loss through evaporation by up to 80%. It also acts as an insulator, maintaining a more even soil temperature for root systems, reducing stress. It also suppresses weed growth, disperses water evenly into the soil, reducing erosion, releases nutrients and encourages earthworm activity, and adds to the overall aesthetics of your garden, often being a feature in its own right.
The two main categories of mulch are organic, with materials like wood chips, bark and cane, that decompose over time, releasing nutrients, but will need topping up. Landscape suppliers sell a range of different options, or you can make your own with a mulcher.
Inorganic mulches are materials like pebbles, gravel and slate. These don’t break down like organic mulches do, but can create exciting design effects. Japanese and contemporary landscapes often use inorganic mulches for example.
The depth of mulch you apply depends on the type your using, as a general rule, 75-100mm should suffice, however finer mulches can be thinner, and coarser mulches thicker.
Whatever you use, avoid building up around plant stems, as this restricts air flow, and can cause rot. Just roll the mulch down from around the base of the plant; it is as easy as that!
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