By Alicia Paaso - Gardenscape Sales Team/RHS Level 2 Horticulturalist
The past few weeks have been exceptionally hot with the heat waves we've had. This June is the hottest ever recorded in England, with temperatures exceeding 30º. With such a hot and humid start to summer, we can expect more warm days ahead. Drought conditions have negative effects on soil and plant health by causing wilting, stunted growth, and soil erosion. Water retention in your garden is more important now than ever, and we can achieve this by mulching! Read below for a guide on what mulch is, what it does, and some guidance to help you decide which mulch is right for your garden.What is mulch?
Mulches are used to cover bare soil around plants in containers or on your beds and borders. Mulch can be bark, compost, stone chippings, or even cockleshells! What is right for you depends on what you are trying to achieve. The vital benefits that they all share are water retention, soil protection, and weed reduction. Mulches reduce soil water loss by decreasing evaporation, as well as reducing water competition from weeds by minimising weed germination. A mulch layer thickness of 5-7 cm is the general guide for the best effect.
Which mulch is right for me?
Compost mulches are suitable if you are looking to give your plants a nutrient boost, as well as having the benefits of mulching. This will also improve the soil structure as it breaks down and is incorporated into the existing soil over time. Peat free compost, manure, and mushroom compost are all excellent options. Our peat free compost is suitable for most planting and can be applied straight away without the risk of scorching. Manure is the most nutrient-rich option, but it’s best to leave it to rot down for at least a few weeks to avoid any scorch damage to your plants. Mushroom compost is cherished by many gardeners for its soil-improving abilities. However, it is slightly alkaline and should therefore be avoided if you have ericaceous-loving plants.
Bark mulches improve water retention, have all the soil-protecting properties and are decorative. We offer a wide range of bark mulches in different sizes and styles for whichever aesthetic you desire. Composted bark is the ideal option for ericaceous-loving plants.
Hard landscaping mulches such as stone chippings and cockleshells are decorative and work well in specialist areas. Stone chippings can be used to mimic alpines’ natural habitat, and cockleshells work well with the coastal garden style. You can take advantage of the aggregate’s albedo to suit the growing conditions needed. Lighter aggregates, such as Polar White Chippings, with a higher albedo will reflect heat and light for cooler growing temperatures. Dark aggregates with a lower albedo will absorb more light and heat, heating the area.
Special Mulch Offer
We are offering a 10% discount on all the bark mulches and compost mulches mentioned above until the end of July. This also includes all the Play Area Barks. Simply use ‘MULCH25’ at checkout!
Happy mulching!
