Mulching and weed control
If there is one job that pays you back more than any other, it is mulching: covering bare soil with a layer of material. It locks in moisture so you water less, smothers weeds before they start, feeds the soil as it breaks down, and keeps roots cool in summer and protected in winter.
What mulch does
Effect | What you get |
|---|---|
Moisture | you water far less often |
Weeds | smothered before they start |
Soil | breaks down into goodness |
Temperature | cool in summer, warm in winter |
Which material
Good organic mulches include garden compost, well-rotted manure, leaf mould, bark chips, straw, and grass clippings in thin layers.
Compost and manure feed the soil most. Bark and straw last longer and look tidier. Whatever you use, make sure it is weed-free.
How to mulch
- Weed first — clear the bed
- Water — moist soil
- Spread — 5 to 7 centimetres thick
- Keep off stems — avoid rot
- Top up — each season
Mulch onto moist, weed-free soil; spring is ideal. Lay it 5 to 7 centimetres thick but keep a small gap around plant stems and crowns so they do not rot. Top it up once or twice a year as it breaks down into the soil.
Staying ahead of weeds
Mulch is your first line of defence, but a few weeds always appear.
- Hoe them off while they are tiny, on a dry day.
- Pull perennial weeds out by the root.
- Never let weeds flower and set seed. One season of seeding means years of weeding.
Bare soil grows weeds. Keep it covered — with mulch or with plants.
Frequently asked questions
Will mulch stop all weeds? It hugely reduces them by blocking light. The odd weed on top is easy to pull.
Can mulch attract slugs? Damp mulch can shelter slugs. Keep it off seedling stems and stay on top of them.
How often do I re-mulch? Top up once or twice a year as organic mulch rots into the soil.
Are grass clippings OK? Yes, in thin layers. Thick wet layers turn slimy.
The full version of this guide is on seedschoice.com.
For a healthy garden
- Green manures for better soil
- Organic green manures
- Bee-friendly flowers
- Vegetables you can sow this month
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Updated on: 05/10/2026
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