Mulches explained

[bario1]

Yes, it's really just spent farmyard manure, but they add lime during the mushroom growing process, hence why it's good for brassicas.

[WalterWhite]

Tend to use Clover Composted Fine Bark blended with leaf mould.

Cocoa shells when i can get my hands on it.

[Nicos]

Tarragon....you say Magnolia leaves?
They take ages to break down, so I'd have thought they were ideal?

[Tarragon2017]

Thanks best get out there and collect the few I have left before the gardener mows them all up

[Nicos]

Mown leaves are fine!

[Jungle Jane]

Let the trees do the mulching for you

[Tarragon2017]

I collected all sort of leaves, How deep should the mulching layer of leaves be ?

I collected some rose petals is that ok ?

[Baldy]

Good job we like questions Tarragon - seems your head is close to exploding!
Never heard of a particular problem using 'em... Go for it says I

[Tarragon2017]

Do I have to shred the leaves before I put it in containers or can I put them in whole ?

[Penellype]

I've tried various mulches and most do the job:
home made compost including out of the hotbin - works well but can grow weeds.
used grow bags - works very well
contents of last year's hotbed (made from horse manure so basically the same as well rotted manure) - works very well
cocoa shell - works very well but poisonous to dogs and hard to get hold of
strulch ("organic" straw mulch treated to repel slugs) - works well
shredded bark - not my favourite, chunky and tends to grow moss
fresh horse manure - good around shrubs, not recommended for veg
black plastic - not a favourite of mine as tends to harbour slugs, but good for suppressing weeds.
gravel/grit - good for pots especially alpines but can grow moss

My favourite is cocoashell, but I haven't been able to find it for 3 years now.

[Tarragon2017]

do you mean coco coir penellype

[sparrow100]

Another one to add to the selection is spent hops. Breweries tend to give them away, but be clear that you want the hops not the spent grain, which stinks and sprouts. Hops are poisonous to dogs though and smell tasty to begin with.

I use them on my saffron beds, where they worked a treat as weed suppressant last year. Am going to use them in my fruit cages this year too.

[Small pumpkin]

I don't mulch.

I considered briefly to mulch round the fruit bushes with spent straw & wood shavings from my chicken house but decided not to because I didn't want it blowing around the rest of the garden and weeds would still grow through it anyway.
My raised beds, I weed and retaining moisture isn't a problem due to location

[Tarragon2017]

how do you mulch correctly if you use grit would u put a thin layer over your soil . Wouldnt it Inhibit plant growth as they have to push through the layer of grit.

With regards to coco coir would you put a layer of an inch over the top but again leave some space for plants to push through ?

[Bigmallly]

My favourite is cocoashell, but I haven't been able to find it for 3 years now.

Tommy Topsoil - Products - Mulches - Cocoa Shell Mulch (BIG VALUE 75 ltr)