The Ultimate Guide to Mulching

A well-mulched garden not only looks great, but it performs better, too. With healthier soil, fewer weeds, and less maintenance, there are numerous benefits to incorporating mulch into your landscaping. But how exactly do you mulch?

Whether you’re maintaining a small garden or designing a large commercial space, mulching can completely transform and enhance your landscaping. This article will tell you what mulching is, the benefits of it and how to mulch effectively – helping you get the best results from your projects.

Content Overview

• What is mulch?
• The different types of mulch
• The benefits of mulching
• View our range of bark & mulch
• How to mulch
• Where & when to apply mulch
• Our top tips for mulching
• Speak to the experts

What is Mulch?

Put simply, mulch is an organic material placed over the surface of soil to protect or nourish it. The nutrient-rich content of mulch can help improve the condition of soil, aid water retention and drainage, and protect it from the elements. All of which benefit your plants by feeding them the essentials they need to grow strong, healthy, and vibrant.

The Different Types of Mulch

Natural mulch is the most common form, which is made of decomposed organic matter. However, there are inorganic types of mulch, such as gravel, decorative stones or bark, which have similar qualities but provide a different look. They also make fantastic ground cover!

• Ornamental Bark Mulch – ideal for borders, edges and flowerbeds.
• Play Bark – soft, safe and aesthetically-appealing coverage.
• Composted Mulch – perfect for soil enrichment, plant health and moisture retention.
• Decorative Aggregates – for low maintenance areas, ground cover or design features.

The Benefits of Mulching

Mulching does more than add aesthetic appeal; it actively supports your garden’s health and durability. Some of the key benefits of incorporating mulch in your landscaping include:

Enhancing Soil Moisture Retention

A deep layer of mulch helps reduce water evaporation in the summer – keeping your soil and plant roots hydrated, and reducing the need for watering. In winter, mulch can also aid drainage to avoid soil saturation.

Suppressing Weeds

Not only does mulch reduce space for weeds to grow, but it can also be used to block sunlight and prevent weeds from germinating – saving you time and effort weeding flower beds.

Improving Soil Health

Organic mulches can boost your soil’s structure, condition and quality. With slow-releasing nutrients, they enrich your soil over time and support plant growth. It’s also a natural, sustainable product with benefits for the ecosystem, too.

Protecting Soil from Frost

As temperatures drop throughout winter, your soil is susceptible to frost. A layer of mulch can keep the chill at bay, ensuring plant roots stay warm, while reducing stress on your plants throughout the seasons.

Boosting Visual Appeal

Ultimately, bark mulch provides a finishing touch to your landscaping – tying together the different areas of your exterior and instantly elevating your garden design. Mulch provides depth, texture, and colour so that you can have a lot of fun with it too!

How to Make Organic Mulch

If you’re looking to make your own mulch, you can easily do so by reusing the organic matter and debris in your own backyard. Here are our top tips for producing your own, sustainable mulch:

1. Choose a corner of your garden – First, you need to create a compost bin. Location is key: you don’t want it too warm or too damp. Look for a sunny spot that’s protected from the wind. Your ideal temperature within your compost bin should be 65 to 71 °C.
2. Add your organic content – You want a good balance of green and brown ingredients. Green consists of high water content: vegetables, weeds, grass clippings, etc., while brown consists of dry materials like straw, fallen leaves or woody stems.
3. Turn over the heap – Using a garden fork, regularly turn over your compost to ensure everything gets broken down and air can easily flow through. It will help speed up the mulching process and keep the microbes active.
4. Test the texture – To check your compost is ready for us, grab a handful of your mulch (wearing gloves). The debris should have all broken down to leave a brown, crumbly, soil-like material. It should also have a pleasant, damp woodland smell.

Step-by-Step Guide to Mulching Effectively

Follow our easy four-step guide to mulching:

1. Prepare the Area: Remove existing weeds and debris, and rake over the area for a level surface. If the soil looks dry, water the area first, as mulch will help lock in moisture.

2. Choose the right mulch: With different types of mulch, it’s important to pick the right type to achieve the best results:

• Bark mulch or composted mulch is good for borders and flower beds to support soil health.
• Decorative stone or gravel is ideal for ground cover and improving drainage.
• Play bark is perfect for family and public spaces with high traffic.

3. Apply your mulch evenly: Spread a layer around 5-7cm, keeping mulch a few centimetres away from plant stems or trunks to avoid moisture build-up or rot.
4. Maintain your mulch: We recommend topping up your mulch once or twice a year. Organic mulch, in particular, will naturally decompose or compact, so it’s essential to lightly rake it and reapply it to keep it even and aerated.

Where Should You Apply Mulch?

Mulching is a key part of gardening care, and can be used in almost every part of the garden:

• Flower borders & shrub beds – for moisture retention and weed control.
• Around trees & hedges – to protect roots and encourage steady growth.
• Vegetable patches – to help regulate temperature and reduce watering needs.
• Decorative areas – for a neat, tidy finish, gravel or bark make for perfect ground cover.
• Children’s play areas – soft play bark creates a soft and safe base for kids to use.

When’s the Best Time to Apply Mulch?

Spring or autumn is the best time of year to apply mulch to your landscaping. During spring, mulch will help lock in moisture and prevent early weed growth. In autumn, mulch can help insulate soil and protect plant roots over winter. By applying mulch twice a year, you have plenty of time to create your own organic mulch if you prefer.

Our Mulching Top Tips

• Always apply mulch onto moist soil to maximise its benefits.
• For sloped landscapes, opt for bigger bark or chippings as they’re less likely to wash away.
• Use composted or organic mulch in planting areas to boost fertility and plant growth.
• Don’t apply more than 10cm of mulch; this can block air flow and suffocate roots.
• Combine decorative stone with bark mulch to add colour and texture to your landscaping.

Speak to the Experts

We’re passionate about supplying sustainable materials that enhance landscapes while being kind to the environment. Mulch can achieve just that. Our bark and mulch products are sourced responsibly for our customers and trade accounts. Available in bulk bags or loose loads, we can deliver mulch directly to your site. Just get in touch with our friendly customer service team. For our landscapers, check out our Trade Account for additional support with your landscaping projects.

Helpful Articles

• Bark Mulch: What is it & Why Use it?
• Product Spotlight: Bark Mulch/Chippings
• Do Weeds Grow Through Bark?