Mulch

[Hollie the Wollie]

I was not sure where to put this, so I hope it's the right place.

I have raised beds in my garden and will soon have a new border. Both of these areas suffer from poor soil. It was suggested to me to add new compost and then add mulch on top.

I hope someone can advise; should I do this now or later in the year? Is this is right thing to do to improve my soil quality? Any recommendations on what would be the best product for my garden? What about this... http://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/new-...x-p-11644.html

The soil itself is quite sandy and dry, very hard, lots of stones and then if you dig in around 2" you get quite heavy and compact dark soil.

[Hollie the Wollie]

Ive seen large chip bark for less than half the price of this other one... is that better value?

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Hollie, are you using the new border for flowers or growing veggies? Is the idea for the mulch to improve the soil or to keep the weeds down?

[Hollie the Wollie]

Well, the beds will not really be for veg, at least that is not the plan for now.

There are not really any weeds actually, just baron, dry land!

[Lesley Jay]

Well, Hollie, bark chips are used more as a decorative weed suppressant and don't actually improve the soil, as such, but they can alter the soil's ph. You are probably better to dig in a couple of bags of good multi compost to help with the moisture retention. If you collect leaves this coming autumn to make leaf mold you will be able to dig that in to the really heavy soil after a year to help loosen the ground more. Leaf mold is good for veggies aswell. It's easy to make - just rake up the autumn leaves and run the mower over them to chop the leaves smaller. Put them in a black bin bag, water them, then pierce some holes in the bottom of the bin bag. Tie up the top of the bag and put somewhere out of the way for 12 months - then dig in the beds.

[rockdigital]

I use cypress mulch and also have a problem w/ black widows. I've never seen one under my mulch, the black widows at my house tend to hide under the wood trim by the porches.