To Mulch, or Not to Mulch..... That is the Question

Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The weeds and droughts of outrageous fortune

Or to take arms against an influx of nettles

And by opposing end them.  To die, to sleep

 

I’m not a mulcher.

 

 

 

 

Not really convinced of the advantages, in a small to medium suburban garden at least, (if you have close on half an acre and large swathes of shrub-land then possibly different rules apply).  I think they're having us on to be fair.  Selling back to us waste materials that would otherwise have to be disposed of; but while that point remains moot - what is for sure is that you're involving yourself in yet more expense and back-breaking lifting, trudging back from the garden centre with boot loads of it.

 

So you get all this stuff home and spread it about, and (supposedly) it helps retain the moisture.  What’s with all the advice everywhere about introducing materials to aid drainage?  We’re only just beginning to get to know our USG-Plot here but straight off we see that a bit of rain, and it all runs into a squelchy bog in the bottom corner, which co-incidentally is also the only part of the garden which enjoys periods of prolonged sunshine throughout the day, so is where the majority of the planting will be centred.  Retain moisture – maybe not. 

 

 

Further purported benefits of the mulch revolution is that it prevents weeds.

 

Really?

 

I’m noticing that determined healthy weeds are now materialising in among the areas of gravel we have here, which incidentally, also has the added benefit of a layer of weed deterrent membrane. 

 

 

 

 

If the dandelions can outsmart a fitted ground sheet and a ton of pebbles I’m not sure that some soggy, half rotten bark tatters will dissuade resolute brambles and knotweed from pushing their way to glory.  In fact in my experience little weedlets love the damp decayed environment that the mulch provides which, by it's very nature, is producing perfect conditions for them to flourish and they rapidly appear in a layer sprinkled all across the top of the so called weed deterrent matter, waving happily in the breeze.

 

No, I agree with myself …………….. I’m not a mulcher.

 

Conversely I do, possibly unnecessarily, like to enrich the soil ahead of any plantings. 





 A generous compost sprinkle is sufficient to convince me that fine and luscious nutrients have been introduced,

 

supplemented always with a dose of delicious chicken manure, such to adequately provide for the needs of our newly introduced plant friends

 

 

So, now's the time to start arranging and setting out the plants and to begin getting them settled into  position.

 

 

We'll be looking at that in more detail next time