Why Mulch?

A garden without mulch is much harder to maintain because the soil dries out between watering or rainfall, which means you will need to water your garden more frequently and with water restrictions this is not always possible.

When the soil surface is bare and exposed, weeds start to germinate and they will start to compete with your valuable plants for sunlight, moisture and nutrients. Bare soil, regardless of what type it is (clay, sandy) will become very hard on the surface, therefore watering and feeding will become quite difficult because the moisture will not penetrate.

How does mulch work?

In native bushland the soil is normally covered with leaves and bark that has fallen from trees above. This is nature's mulch layer. In your garden you can recreate these conditions by covering your plants with mulch.

Mulch works in many different ways. Mulch acts as a surface layer between the soil and the elements (especially the sun and wind) which can cause quite a lot of damage. When you mulch your garden with a deep layer of organic matter the soil will not dry out rapidly. Time spent watering your garden is dramatically reduced.

What type of mulch is best to use in my garden?

Organic mulches, such as leaves, compost and manure, gradually break down into the soil and provide plants many nutrients. As your garden is watered the nutrients from the mulch will seep down into the soil and keep your plants growing at a moderate rate.

The following mulches are readily available at landscape supply centres:-

1. Pine Bark - various sizes of dark red-brown pine bark, from a finely shredded to large chunks. Excellent for around shrubs or for making pathways: gives a neat and tidy finish.

2. Woodchip - Shredded and chopped timber that is a natural colour. Will not feed plants. Use manure mulch inbetween soil and mulch to add nutrients.

3. Leaf Mulch - Decidous leaves used directly around plants. Gives garden a natural look. will rot down and feed plants.

4. Straw - Light coloured natural finish. Darkens with age and weathering. Doesn't provide instant nutrients to plants. Can sometimes contain weeds. Newspaper can be used to prevent weeds.

5. Mushroom Compost - Dark brown shredded waste from mushroom farms. Very high in nutrients. Keep away from acid loving plants,

6. Scoria or pebbles - Can be sourced in many different colours from vibrant red to pale cream colours. No nutrient. Commonly used for low maintenance gardens. Liquid fertiliser is recommended to be used regularly when using this type of mulch.

7. Bagged Organic Mulch - If you only need a small amount of mulch for a small area, Plantworld sells bagged mulch. Very high in nutrients. Contains leaf mulch and bark.

Beware!!

Many plants do not like the mulch being taken up too close to their trunks because it increases ground-level humidity and fungal problems can result. This applies to small seedlings, which can callapse if mulch is agains their stems. Trees & shrubs may develop collar rot if mulch is piled up around the base. You are much better served to create a well around the tree or shrub to prevent this from happening.