Mulch may not seem too glamorous, but it certainly is an essential part of any gardening project- and the right mulch can really make your garden stand out. In the Geelong region, mulch is crucial for keeping moisture in the soil, adding nutrients and discouraging weeds. It can save up to 60% on your watering, and protect your plants from the scorching sun.
Stone Mulch
Decorative pebbles can add a sleek, modern design finish to any garden. They come in a variety of types: Tuscan (a natural adobe-coloured stone), Granite (crisp and darker-coloured), Highland (light-coloured), White, or smooth Bright Riverstones. Most of these are available in 20mm pebbles or larger 40mm-120mm rocks. There is also Shell Grit, made up of tiny shells, and Grit Mulch which are great options for natural-looking coastal gardens. Pebbles can be a great choice around pools, since they won’t blow around as much. In general decorative pebbles for a garden bed should not contain stone finings, which will compact and keep water from soaking through to the roots.
Types of Wood Mulch
Mulch is traditionally made up of chipped wood and/or bark, and there are a few main types- some contain more bark, are shredded or chipped, are graded or coloured and are different types of wood. Tan Bark (which comes in 10mm or 20mm sizes) contains pine bark, whereas Pine Mulch itself contains more chipped pine wood. Softfall mulch is also pine, and is safety certified for children’s playgrounds. Black Mulch is dyed for a dramatic effect. Euca mulch is a great option for natives- it is darker, finer and more shredded than chipped. Red Gum Chips are gorgeous big chips of wood, and add a textured natural red tone to the garden. These mulches are all standardized and should keep their colour well.
Natural mulch, or bush mulch, is ungraded, so each batch may vary slightly. It is a great inexpensive option but it may contain more leaves and twigs than the graded mulches. It can also be used underneath a graded mulch. Mushroom mulch adds nutrients to the soil more than it keeps moisture in.
How much do I need?
For wood mulch you will need a layer 75-150mm thick, and this should be topped up every couple of years. It is a good idea to sprinkle some organic aged compost underneath the mulch layer, to keep your plants healthy. Pebbles won’t break down over time, and should be about 50mm-100mm thick. Weed mat should be laid underneath to stop any weeds from invading and save you a lot of time tediously weeding!
To determine how much mulch you need, measure your area in metres, and then choose your thickness. Multiply length x width of the garden bed, then multiply by depth in metres (e.g. 75mm is 0.075metres). This will tell you how many cubic metres of product you need- at SouthPoint Garden Supplies, we deliver any quantity, no matter how big or small, to any door in the Geelong region.