Mulch is a very useful thing for borders and for your plants. It can prevent water loss, suppress weeds, keep the soil cool, prevent frost damage and create an attractive finish to your bed or border. Organic mulches will also decompose and have the same effect as a slow acting compost.

If you are thinking about mulching you generally should do it either in the Autumn or mid to late Spring.

Mulch can be divided into two different categories of mulch. There is either organic or inorganic mulch.

Different Types of Mulch

Organic Mulch

Organic mulches are made up of organic matter such as plant material, wood and straw. They decompose slowly adding nutrients to the soil.

Green Compost

Green compost can be anything that you would find at the bottom of the compost heap and can also include well composted manure. This is probably the cheapest option and has the added benefit that as regards it also fertilises your borders.

Green compost benefits

• Supresses annual weeds

• Prevents water loss

• Acts as a layer of insulation against frost

• Provide nutrients for the plants in your borders

Green compost drawbacks

• Decomposes quickly and will need reapplication

Wood and Bark Fines ✔

The difference between the chip and fines is the size, fines being the smaller. Both are made from either wood or bark. Well composted, high quality bark fines are GardenWilds mulch of choice because of the high quality finish it provides.

Wood and bark fines benefits

• Supresses annual weeds

• Prevents water loss

• Acts as a layer of insulation against frost

• Gives the border an attractive finish

• Eventually decomposes and provides nutrients

Wood and bark fines drawbacks

• Be careful with where you get the mulch from because the wood could have been treated with harmful chemical before it was chipped

• Some chip can weather and become grey and unattractive

Straw or Strulch

Straw is quite often specified by garden designers because it is the only organic mulch that (if properly prepared) is completely inert. Meaning it is chemically inactive and has a neutral pH.

Straw benefits

• Supresses annual weeds

• Prevents water loss

• Acts as a layer of insulation against frost

• Eventually decomposes and provides nutrients

Straw drawbacks

• Straw has an annoying tendency to blow all over the garden in the slightest wind

Inorganic Mulch

Inorganic mulch is made up of inorganic matter and tends to be purely decorative

Gravel or Slate

Gravel and other stone chipping can be a very attractive option and can create a specific effect. You can get gravel of pretty much any size you like and in a variety of different stone. It’s advisable to put a weed proof membrane under the gravel because after a few years you might start to see more perennial weeds popping up. If you are mulching a border that has planting in it cut an x in the membrane and plant through that. Then put the mulch on top.

Gravel and slate benefits

• Good even finish

• In addition to a membrane is the best at weeds suppression

• Prevents water loss

• Acts as a layer of insulation against frost

• Don’t need to reapply

Gravel and slate drawbacks

• Can be very annoying to rake fallen leaves or hedge cuttings from gravel

• Gives a very specific look, probably not suitable for every border

Landscape Fabric or Plastic Sheeting

This type of mulch is only used when a bed or border is inactive, in other words nothing is growing in it. The fabric and the sheeting are designed so that weeds cannot penetrate it. I would probably only use this mulch as a short term solution.

Landscape Fabric or Plastic Sheeting benefits

• In addition to a membrane is the best at weeds suppression

• Prevents water loss

• Acts as a layer of insulation against frost

• Don’t need to reapply

Landscape Fabric or Plastic Sheeting drawbacks

• It very ugly to look at

• The plastic sheeting can cause anaerobic respiration if the soil isn’t aerated properly which can cause a build up of ethonal

• only a short term solution