Do I need to add soil/mulch around my shrub?

sabeeha · August 2018

Hi!

I have a cotoneaster bush, which I posted about some time back (it was not very healthy).

I was clearing around the base of it today, and just have a couple of questions:

1) There was a lot of ivy growing up inside - I have instinctively taken it out, but can ivy be suffocating to normal shrubs?

2) The soil around the base of the shrub is seriously dry and crumbly - its more than simply dry, it looks as if lacks organic matter/structure. How can I fix this? Can I add some kind of mulch? Is now an ok time to do this?

Thank you!

Bijdezee · August 2018

It certainly won't do any harm. Although wait until after you have had a good lot of rain then mulch it.

Dovefromabove · August 2018

Bijdezee said:

It certainly won't do any harm. Although wait until after you have had a good lot of rain then mulch it.

Or if rain isn't 'available' give it a really good soaking with a hose or several buckets full of water before mulching. This is sometimes the better solution anyway as the top growth of a shrub can deflect rainfall away from the root area .

sabeeha · August 2018

Thank you Bijdezee and Dovefromabove

Any recommendations?

When I read up on mulch, there are always quite a few options... compost, manure, etc. Do you have any recommendations? (that ideally, I can get from a local garden centre)

Thank you again.

Dovefromabove · August 2018

I would use either ‘well rotted farmyard manure’ or ‘soil conditioner’ ... both available in bags from most garden centres.
🙂

Ladybird4 · August 2018

Morning sabeeha. In answer to your first question, ivy can indeed be a real threat to shrubs as it can completely overwhelm them if left unattended. You did the right thing in removing it.

sabeeha · August 2018

Thank you Dovefromabove and Ladybird4!

Much appreciated!

Ladybird4 · August 2018

Always welcome sabeeha.

Dovefromabove · August 2018

Do I need to add soil/mulch around my shrub?

Posts