Why Can't My Garden Look Like That? by John Shortland

Author:John Shortland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Gardening, Creative Gardening, digging, planting, pruning
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2013-06-18T00:00:00+00:00

The different types of composts and mulches for general use in the garden

Types of compost

Name Source Do I use it as a compost or a mulch?

Garden compost It’s free if you make it at home Either – it can be dug into the ground or left on the surface

Green waste Garden centres Either – use in the same way as garden compost but more sparingly

Mushroom compost Garden centres

Mushroom farms

Small ads Mulch – but only because it is rather costly. Rich and heavy, it is ideal for using on exposed sites where a lighter mulch when dry might blow away.

It can be rather smelly when wet so use with caution near the house.

Do not use on plants such as rhododendrons that dislike lime

Grass cuttings Free Mulch – it can be laid thickly at the foot

of hedges or raspberry canes, ideally over a generous layer of damp newspaper to make a weed-proof barrier.

More often it is added as an ingredient of the garden compost heap or mixed with leaves to make leaf mould

Straw Local farms Mulch – traditionally used to lift ripening strawberry fruits off the ground.

It can also be mixed with grass cuttings to improve the balance of garden compost heaps or placed over the crowns of plants that need protection from cold during the winter

Leaf mould Free if homemade Mulch – use around trees and shrubs unless you have a plentiful supply when you can use it everywhere

Chipped bark Garden centres Mulch – can be used as a weed-suppressing mulch around shrubs and trees, or to make informal paths.

Buy special play grade bark which is less likely to splinter for children’s play areas

Gravel Garden centres

DIY stores

Builders merchants Mulch – for paths and gravel gardens use a locally sourced stone if possible for cheaper freight costs.

Place a layer of horticultural grade grit (bought from garden centres) at the base of pots to improve drainage and stability

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