Yes a mulch of compost will eradicate all those tiny seedings by smothering them. But not the larger ones. I've been using a bamboo cane with one of those wire ground pins pushed in the end (the type used to pin geotextiles in place) to make a tiny "hoe" that can be pushed between my existing plants. In spaces that would be too tight for a normal hoe. But it's a faff
Bricklayers pointing key taped to a brush pole ideal for amongst plants and I'm sure there in the B&Q clearance for 3 or 4 quid just now
If you use bark chips, or grit, so that's OK for the soil then - it's not a problem for soil quality to have a large of amount of chips/grit worked in to the soil over time?
I am careful where I use them. I mulch plants like bearded iris with grit because they like sharp drainage and I also find the weight of the grit helps stabilise them a bit in my windy garden. But I wouldn't use grit everywhere. I do mulch my pots with grit quite often - slows up the slugs a bit.
Likewise the bark chips are generally around big shrubs like acers, camelias and azaleas. But I wouldn't use them around bedding plants, say (if I had any). I can sometimes get composted bark which is much finer texture. It doesn't last as long as a mulch but it is great for opening out the soil texture. I can't often get hold of it though.
If you have pets, beware of cocoa bark that you sometimes get as a mulch. It smells lovely, dogs do eat it and it's poisonous. I can get pine park chips - much safer if less chocolatey
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I see raisingirl, that all makes sense, so you are mulching specifically around certain plants rather than the whole bed, and picking the mulch just right for the plant. I love that idea.
Will be careful of cocoa thank you. Pine chips sound like they smell good.
Just done hoeing on the little ones and left them there. It's so quick! Pulled out any biggies by the root and disposed of, and kept a look out to make sure I'm not hoeing emerging plants.
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Likewise the bark chips are generally around big shrubs like acers, camelias and azaleas. But I wouldn't use them around bedding plants, say (if I had any). I can sometimes get composted bark which is much finer texture. It doesn't last as long as a mulch but it is great for opening out the soil texture. I can't often get hold of it though.
If you have pets, beware of cocoa bark that you sometimes get as a mulch. It smells lovely, dogs do eat it and it's poisonous. I can get pine park chips - much safer if less chocolatey
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”