This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Mulching
InBloom
Posts: 68
Hello everyone I have a heavy clay soil and was thinking of putting a mulch on this autumn. It last had something put on it about 4 years ago, I've somewhat neglected doing it. It's quite hard at the moment. That was bark chips put on back then which have all disappeared now.
Lay it on top? Try to put the fork in?
What are people using please? And where from? I was hoping to try to find something fairly economical because I think I'll need quite a lot in volume.
Thank you
Lay it on top? Try to put the fork in?
What are people using please? And where from? I was hoping to try to find something fairly economical because I think I'll need quite a lot in volume.
Thank you
0
Posts
I have heavy clay soil. I add whatever I can get hold of. Main material is wood chip - tree surgeons waste - because I can get unlimited quantities for free. I prefer not to pay for bagged stuff.
It is the breakdown PROCESS that benefits the soil, therefore you have to have OM constantly breaking down. You can't just add some once and say 'job done'.
What you use depends; I live in the country so stable waste is cheap and can be bought and delivered or is often given free to people who are prepared to collect it and bag it up. A friendly horse owner, farmer or tree surgeon is much to be desired in this respect, but failing that, a search online will show companies near you who can provide the stuff. The more, the better.
Bagged manure from garden centres is good but expensive, as are various types of woodchip.
The counsel of perfection is to dig it in. I would just leave it on the surface for the worms. The time to do it is when you are in the mood and have the materials.
If you listen to Gardeners' World they usually say 3 inches. But I don't have such deep pockets.
Of course it depends on where you are putting it.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Anyway, I'll be needing to cut the hedges soon. If I run these through the shredder what does everyone think about putting that on? They're evergreen though - Eleagnus - and I'm thinking it doesn't usually break down very quickly. Having said that, bark doesn't either and still use that. Can I just put it on straight away, green? Like bede said - anything?
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Thanks all for suggestions, first home made mulch is on - shredded hedge clippings. Not exactly 3"! But it's something and it reused what would otherwise have gone in the garden bin. It should give the worms something to chew on! But I have neglected feeding the soil really and then wonder why my plants at times don't do too well. So got a few changes to make- better watering (using grey water now), more feeding and start regular mulching.