With the continuing drought most Brisbane council's have strict water restrictions in place. Applying mulch regularly around the garden is the best way to cut down on the need to water, as mulch protects the soil by reducing the rate of evaporation.

Other benefits of mulch include:

    * improves the structure of soil
    * reduces erosion
    * suppresses weeds
    * retains an even soil temperature
    * encourages living organisms

Tips: The depth of the mulch layer should usually be between 100-150 mm. It is important not to place the mulch around the trunk of the tree/shrub.  This can cause water to remain around the bark and result in collar rot which may kill the plant.

MULCH TYPES

Grass Clippings

It is high in Nitrogen and should be dried and combined with manure or leaf litter before laying on the garden. If used fresh, grass clippings can form a water resistant mat which may take a long time to break down. The high Nitrogen content in grass clippings can cause a Nitrogen deficiency in the surrounding plants.  Avoid this by combining the clippings with manure or compost before placing the grass clippings onto your garden.

Compost - Household

Adds humus to the soil and improves soil structure. A covered compost area is essential to stop vermin from eating household scraps.

Woodchips

Natural looking and long lasting wood chips do not offer as great a nutrient base as other mulch types. However, woodchip mulch if used correctly can be very effective in retaining moisture in the soil. Recent research has found that chunky woodchip mulch is superior to fine grade woodchip in allowing water penetration.

Forest mulch is a blend of leaf litter and woodchips; the leaf litter provides more immediate nutrients and the woodchip breaks down more slowly and provides a slow release of nutrients into the soil. We provide high quality forest mulch - call us to organise a delivery. 

Leaf Litter

Quickly breaks down into humus (a mineral rich matter), great for rejuvenating tired soils.

Mushroom Compost

A good mulch, if sourced from a quality nursery/supplier. Important to check that ph level is suitable for your garden type. A ph of between 6-7 would suit most gardens. Be aware that mushroom compost becomes water resistant if allowed to dry out completely.