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Is it the wrong time of year to mulch?

(5 Posts)
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AskAlice Wed 02-Jul-25 08:12:40

I usually use my home made compost to mulch the borders/veg beds in early Spring, but my DH ignored my instruction request not to put any more veg peelings, shredded paper or prunings in the bin until I had emptied it so there was a lot of fresh stuff that kept falling through when I tried to dig it out. I didn't have the strength or patience to sieve it all out! The new stuff has now rotted sufficiently for me to use my compost, and it is raining steadily here this morning (Hertfordshire) so I would like to mulch once the rain has stopped.

I know it will be more difficult to mulch amongst the lush growth, but also I am wondering if the plants would get any benefit - is it worth me doing this? Does anyone else mulch in the summer?

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merlotgran Wed 02-Jul-25 08:18:18

If you have plenty of lush growth I would hang on to the compost until you start to cut back perennials in the late summer and use it then.

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Whitewavemark2 Wed 02-Jul-25 08:48:39

If your ground is bone dry it will stay dry if you mulch.

Only mulch if the ground is wet/damp quite a few inches down.

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AskAlice Fri 04-Jul-25 08:40:39

Thank you both - I think I'll wait until autumn when we have had some penetrating rain. Maybe it's time for me to buy a second compost bin?!

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Azalea99 Mon 14-Jul-25 16:56:38

Or a second DH! Seriously, thank you for the question - I had a fall which set me back for over 6 weeks so have been wondering the same thing. So glad to have been saved a time-consuming mistake.

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