Top tips

1

Gravel mulch on pot surfaces looks neat, suppresses weeds, keeps moisture in and prevents leaves touching the wet soil. It’s great for alpines.

2

Give parched shrubs and other plants a good watering before you add mulch around them, so the bark will have some moisture to retain.

3

Try light-coloured wood chippings for more of a decorative touch. They’re carbon-rich and give out light amounts of nutrients.

4

Grass clippings are perfect for mulching around shrubs – and it gives you somewhere to put them! If you use lawn weedkiller, don’t use as mulch.