Mulch | Soil |

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

To grow well, plants need a wide range of nutrients in various amounts, depending on the individual plant and its stage of growth. The three key plant nutrients usually derived from soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, while carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are absorbed from the air. Other vital soil nutrients include magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Most garden soils contain enough nutrients to promote healthy plant growth.

Nutrients

Preparation

Gather tools and mulches together.
Discuss the importance of tool safety before starting the session.

Equipment

• Mulching materials e.g. compost, well-rotted farmyard manure, soil conditioner, bark, shells, gravel or stones
• Mulching mats or membrane material
• Pegs or wire
• Buckets, trowels or spades, forks for weeding, gloves,
• Watering cans if it has not rained recently

1. Start by clearing any weeds or grass away from the base of the plant, using hand forks, or garden forks. Try to dig up all of the roots of perennial weeds. For trees, clear a circular area 1m in diameter, taking care not to damage the plant roots
2. Water the plants well if it has not recently rained and the soil seems dry
3. If using a mulching mat or membrane, lay the mat around the base of the plant. Peg down with wire or pegs
4. Using trowels or spades fill up a bucket with mulch
5. Apply a thick layer of mulch up to 10cm thick around the base of the bush or tree
6. Make sure the plant and its’ stem is not buried under the pile of mulch
7. Remember mulches such as shells, gravel and stones look attractive and can be used on containers and pots too

• Consider making garden compost and leaf mould to provide home-made mulching material
• Think about the sensory elements mulch can bring to the garden