Mulch is marvellous

THERE are still a few weeks before the growing season gets properly under way. To give plants the best start, use this time to mulch beds and borders. Adding a thick layer of organic matter will improve the texture of any soil, whether you are on chalk, sand or clay.

This will help it to drain better, while retaining moisture and suppressing weeds.

There are lots of different mulches available but whichever we choose, it is essential that they are peatfree. In recent years, we have come to realise just how important peat is as a carbon sink. It takes thousands of years to form but can be rapidly destroyed.

Thankfully, the horticultural industry has finally taken notice and now it is common to find plants on sale in garden centres that have been grown in peat-free soil.

The most economical and environmentally friendly mulch is garden compost made in your own backyard.

One drawback of this, though, is that it often contains seeds of the very weeds you have been trying to get rid of — so before you apply it to your soil, sift it using a garden sieve.

Well-rotted horse manure is also widely available and is a good way of reusing waste.

There are many other peatfree mulches available on the market, from woodchip — which can be on the acidic side — to products made from sheep wool, such as Dalefoot compost.

CLEMATIS CARE

FOR clematis that flower in May and June, such as Mrs Cholmondeley, left, prune now, but not too heavily or they won’t flower. Remove any damaged or dead growth and untangle what remains. Then cut back to above a strong pair of buds about 90cm above the ground. Those that flower later in the summer can be cut back more, to a pair of buds about 30cm above ground. Early clematis such as C. armandii and C. montana, should not be cut back until after flowering.