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MULCH

macfallmacfall Posts: 34
in Problem solving
I have never used mulch before, but I think now it is advisable with the weird summer.  Do i put much round the plant (soil wet) in the spring.  Does this need renewing every year.  Do you just dig the old much into the soil the following year. 
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Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    You can mulch at any time but it is easiest in autumn or early spring, when the soil is workable and the ground is clear. You can work it in a little if you choose, or just leave it to decompose naturally with the help of worms, fungi and other critters. Don't put it right up against the stems of shrubs and perennials as it can cause rot, leave some ground clear.
     It' is best to repeat every year if you can, but it depends on the size of your garden and the depth of your pockets! I can't produce enough mulch for my very large garden just from compost so the beds don't all get done every year, but I do like to give a spring mulch of manure (from the sheep shed, well rotted) on roses and dahlias as it makes a huge difference in performance.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited September 2022
    You can apply a mulch now so that it breaks down over winter, or apply in spring, or both, depending on how much additional organic matter you think your soil needs.  Leaving it on the surface means that the weather and worms will take it down into the soil below, saving you having to dig it in.  There's some useful advice on this RHS link: Mulches and mulching / RHS Gardening
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2022
    The word "mulch" covers a wide variety of things, in a wide variety of garden situations.  If you follow coventional advice as to the depth to apply, you will end up in mulch-poverty.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    If you follow conventional advice, you will end up with very good soil.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    We apply it every year,  trying to aim at 3 to 4” all over,  the plants grow up through it in the Spring. 
    No need to dig it in,  the worms take it down through the winter. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    I apply mulch whenever it is available. You are feeding the microorganisms in the soil and they are always there. Worms will pull the material into the soil so no need to dig it in.
    Ideally applied regularly so breakdown is an ongoing process. I have heavy clay, after more than 10 years I have seen real changes in the soil.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Lyn said:
    We apply it every year,  trying to aim at 3 to 4” all over,  
    From where do you get it?  I don't make even 1'' from my lawn, hedge and tree-rich garden
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    punkdoc:


    From their choice of pen-name, I like to guess what posters are like.

    punkdoc is a puzzle.  "punk" says to me: disruptive, aggressive, anti conventional society.  "doc" says the exact opposite  -- unless it's a PhD. and that says: academic lefty.

    It's a nice game to play.

     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    edited September 2022
    I apply fine composted bark mulch to a depth of 20/30mm'ish. I just spread it over everything and let it do its thing.

    This year I had some sunflowers in an un-mulched bed, and others under mulch. The un-mulched stuff required watering perhaps 3x more. For this reason alone its worth the while.

    What the worms don't drag down slowly decays through microbial activity, all whilst enriching the soil and improving its structure - which is especially useful if you're working toward a non-dig garden. 

    As a bonus, one year I got an unexpected crop of Morels, and last year a few Ceps!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It doesn't matter if it's an inch of six inches. Any organic matter you can add is beneficial. 
    The more you can add and the more frequently you can do it, the better, but it all helps over time 🙂
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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