Gardening Mary Payne MBE

The magic of mulch

WHATis mulch? It is probably best described as a surface dressing between plants which has so many useful attributes. It is very much a “gardener’s best friend”! Homemade garden compost can be used as a mulch, but unless you are an expert composter, it is likely to contain a lot of weed seeds. However, it will have many of the other benefits.

Well-rotted horse or farmyard manure is similar and may introduce both weed seeds and active roots of perennial weeds such as bindweed, which you have hopefully avoided putting in your garden compost heap. This is especially so if it has been stored outdoors.

A mulch made from straw is available commercially in many garden centres and this is an excellent product, providing many of the benefits, without the associated weed problem, and the bonus of discouraging slugs and snails.

For vegetable plots where “looks” are less important, a layer of cardboard can be used, or even several sheets of newspaper covered with a layer of grass clippings. Mushroom compost is excellent, but will decay within 12 months and need replenishing.

Woodchip mulch is ideal as it decays slowly and tree surgeons are often only too pleased to get rid of shreddings.

All organic mulches have the bonus of breaking down to provide some nutrition, but there are so many other advantages, particularly for those looking to make gardening easier for yourself and better for your plants.

So, what makes mulch so useful? One of the huge advantages, particularly in these times of climate change and summer droughts, is a mulch layer which will help prevent undue water loss by surface evaporation from the soil. This occurs not only in sunny weather but also during periods of drying winds.

Fine grade woodchip mulch can be used on pots to reduce evaporation and therefore reduce watering. Some commercial nurseries use shredded miscanthus grasses for this purpose as it helps prevent the germination of hairy bittercress, the scourge of container plants.

The other main bonus of mulch is that a minimum depth of 5cm (2”) will prevent the germination of weed seeds. It does this by cutting out the light from the surface of the soil, so seed germination is inhibited. This is only effective if a weed-free material is used for the mulch, so not homemade compost, or farmyard manure.

A layer of organic mulch will not prevent perennial weeds, such as ground elder, couch grass, and bindweed from pushing through from persistent underground roots, but adding a layer of cardboard will inhibit them somewhat.

I always recommend a minimum 5cm layer of woodland mulch (wood chip) to be applied immediately after an area has been planted. This will inhibit seed germination for a period of about three years. If home compost, farmyard manure or mushroom compost is used it will decay within 12 months and need replenishing.

Mulch will gradually improve your soil structure by adding nutrients as it breaks down. Even a clay soil regularly mulched will show significant improvement quite rapidly. It is sometimes claimed that woodchip mulch will lead to a deficiency of nitrogen. This is not the case if it is put on the

With MARY PAYNE MBE

surface of the soil.

If it is incorporated into the soil, then the bacteria and fungi that break it down need nitrogen. To do this they take it from the soil. If you a have a garden shredder, then the chippings can be put immediately on the surface of a border.

They will rapidly lose their freshly shredded colour. Shreddings from conifers are more acidic that those from broadleaved plants but can still be used, especially around rhododendrons and other acid loving plants.

Other advantages include preventing rain splash, so it can be used instead of straw for strawberries, or spread beneath roses after leaf fall to help prevent black spot disease. It helps prevent erosion on newly planted slopes and may help prevent diseases.

Research has shown that wood chips from willow may reduce the incidence of apple scab disease. The salicylic acid appears to prompt a disease fighting immune response. While in Australia avocado pear plantations mulched with woodchip helped prevent the devastating Phytophthera disease which is currently causing problems worldwide.

Woodchip from eucalyptus has fungicidal, insect repellent and antimicrobial properties when used as bedding for poultry and animals. The use of woodchip on land contaminated by oil or diesel spills helps clean the soil by encouraging the fungi responsible for degrading such materials.

Tender plants can be insulated by a generous layer of mulch whilst all treated areas will benefit from the soil insulation.

One concern may be that the woodchip you purchase has come from diseased trees but the evidence so far is that it does more good than harm, but should not be dug into the soil and should be kept away from the bark of trees.

A bark mulched newly planted area looks more aesthetically pleasing and by the time the mulch has decayed the plants themselves should have covered the ground and excluded light to help prevent weed seed germination.

Planting any area infected with persistent perennial weeds is to be seriously discouraged. The National Trust and Royal Horticultural Society both use pigs to clear land prior to planting!

Virtually the only downside to mulch in a garden is that birds, especially blackbirds, like to scratch and flick the bark onto paths or paving in search of the slugs and worms hiding beneath.

Don’t be alarmed if a layer of white threads grows beneath the surface of a woodchip mulch. This is simply the “root” systems (mycelium) of the saprophytic fungi that are breaking down the mulch. You may get the occasional toadstool as well. Composted bark is frequently used in “peat free” or “peat reduced” potting compost these days and often leads to a flush of toadstools.

• It’s time to sow ageratum, alyssum, antirrhinum, asters, begonias, marigolds, pansies, petunias, stocks and many other flowers in a cold frame or greenhouse. • Cell or plug packs are becoming increasingly popular for raising young plants. You can sow or transplant seedlings directly into them. • Apply a general fertiliser to all beds and borders. • Make a concerted effort to get on top of weeds now, they are about to make a serious spurt of growth! • Time to get planting new herbaceous perennial plants. Astrantia, anemone, campanula, echinacea, hardy geranium, rudbeckia and verbenas are the most popular varieties at the moment. • Prune most roses now, (climbing, rambling and shrub roses are best pruned in summer after the main flush of flower). Start spraying roses for blackspot, rust and aphids. • Lift crowded snowdrops, carefully divide and replant. Avoid breaking their delicate roots if possible. • Remove flower heads from daffodils as they finish flowering. A liquid feed with a liquid tomato fertiliser helps next year’s flowers to form now. • Sow parsnip seeds into a firm fine seedbed. Sow tomato, pepper and cucumber seed for delicious fresh home-grown vegetables from a greenhouse. Sow for growing outside in about six weeks’ time. • You should also sow carrots, peas, broad beans, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, lettuce, sprouts, and many other vegetables.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NURSERY

MASBURY, NR. WELLS, SOMERSET BA5 3HA

TEL: 01749 841014 FAX: 01749 841055 www.rockymountainnurseries.co.uk COME & SEE OUR FINE RANGE OF FRUIT TREES, SHRUBS, GERANIUMS & FUCHSIAS Visit our MASBURY’S CAFE

Serving breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea Delicious homemade meals. Sunday Roasts, Outside catering, buffet lunches delivered, themed cuisine events. Telephone 01749 841155 for further details.

BROWSE AROUND JAMES STORE

SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS WWW.ROCKYMOUNTAINNURSERIES.CO.UK ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS – SET IN 12 WONDERFUL ACRES –

Where service means service

MENDIP Rural Services, run by Aaron Coleman, is where service really does mean service, whether it’s buying a new lawnmower or another item of garden machinery to maintenance and repairs to an old faithful.

Add to that paddock maintenance, fencing and drainage and covering an area stretching from Keinton Mandeville to West Harptree, it’s little surprise that the former sideline has grown into a full-time enterprise.

Based at Haydon, near Wells, Aaron can now call on several people to help him out on various jobs – there is still a demand for logs and kindling, for example – and he can supply new machinery from various manufacturers including Mitox, Al-Ko, Webb, Oregon and Lawnflite.

Mendip Rural Services Ltd.

Springfield, Haydon Drove, Haydon, nr Wells BA5 3EH Our services include: • Lawnmower & garden machinery sales & servicing • Fencing & drainage • Paddock maintenance • Logs & kindling

Phone 07974 259766 Workshop 01749 674077 www.mendipruralservices.co.uk email: mendipruralservices@outlook.com

PERFECT PAVE

Perfect Pave, based on the Valley Line industrial estate, in Cheddar, has built an enviable reputation over the last 16 years for the quality of its work installing block paving and other landscaping products. Now founders Alex Howley and Simon Bethell have set up a new service run by James Starmer supplying these products to both the trade and public, as well as continuing to expand their installation team. e company now has contracts all over the South West and offers a wide choice of projects.

It’s not only friendly, professional service that sets us apart, we can’t be beaten on price and ensure our prices beat those of builders’ merchants and garden centres.

Showroom open 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12noon Sat

Weston Garden Machinery

Garden Machinery & Woodburning Specialists

Behind Shell Garage Winterstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset BS23 2YS Tel: 01934 626093

www.westongarden.co.uk Timberwork Buildings

Bespoke buildings to suit you

We specialise in the manufacture of quality standard and bespoke garden buildings to suit your individual needs including:-

WORKSHOPS/GARAGES

GARDEN SHEDS SHELTERS & STABLES

PLAYHOUSES

Let our dedicated team assist you in your choice whatever your budget . . . Full design, installation and delivery service available –customise your shed to suit your needs We also do: Chicken Houses Dog Kennels • Bin & Log Stores

YOUAREWELCOMETOVISITUSANDSEEOURSHOWMODELS – OPEN 7 DAYSAWEEK THE TIMBERYARD • SHUTE SHELVE • CROSS • NEAR AXBRIDGE Tel: 01934 732 396 • www.timberworkbuildings.co.uk e.mail: timberbuildings@aol.com

NGS GARDENS OF THE MONTH

Lower Shalford Farm

LOWERShalford has a fairly large open garden with extensive lawns and wooded surroundings. The garden and woodland have been created since 1983, and works are still in progress on an ad hoc basis.

There are thousands of spring bulbs, planted in drifts, growing in the wooded area and blooming in spring. There is a small winterbourne stream running through with several stone bridges, walled rose/parterre garden, hedged herbaceous garden and several ornamental ponds. Address: Shalford Lane, Charlton Musgrove, Wincanton BA9 8HE. Contact: Mr & Mrs David Posnett. Opening dates and time: Saturday March 19th, 10am3pm, Saturday, May 21st, 10am-4pm. Booking Tickets: Visits to this Garden can be reserved through the NGS website: https://www.ngs.org.uk or by paying at the gate using cash only. Admission: £5, children free. Directions: Lower Shalford is two miles north east of Wincanton. Leave A303 at Wincanton, go north on B3081 towards Bruton. Just beyond Otter Garden Centre turn right in Shalford Lane, the garden is half a mile on the left with parking opposite the house.

Other Gardens Open for the NGS To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Yellow Book, or local county guide. Leaflet, available from local Garden Centres, or go to: https://www.ngs.org.uk

Beauty in stainless steel

SPRING is a time when our thoughts turn to our gardens as they start to emerge from the dull days of winter. As the plants that have lain dormant since autumn begin to wake up and the leaf and flower buds start to appear, we become aware that the garden Leaf sculpture by Ian Marlow needs our attention and, just as with spring-cleaning the house, it’s an opportunity to refresh parts that have become tired and lacklustre.

A perfect way to give lift to any garden is by adding a sculpture as a focal point. Stainless steel is marvellous for this as the bright surface shines out from even the shadiest places. And it doesn’t matter whether your garden is a traditional cottage one or of a modern architectural style, stainless steel works in both.

Wherever you place your sculpture in the garden it always adds an extra dimension as you see it change with the light of the day, the evening moonlight or with the seasons of the year, each offering you a different view of a prized possession.

You’ll find a sculpture becomes not just part of your garden but part of your home and part of your life. Something to be treasured forever.

By Ian Marlow