Now that summer has arrived, and hopefully the good weather, this is the perfect time to get some mulch onto that garden space. Mulching helps with keeping the moisture in the soil, reduces weed growth, and will deliver some good tucker to your garden when it eventually breaks down.

Some mulches you can use include pea straw, wood or bark chip, leaves, mushroom compost. Other composting material, like old newspapers or woollen carpet can also be used. Ensure the area you want to mulch is watered first, then apply a fertiliser such as Tui General Fertiliser to help replenish the soil with the nutrients required to thrive. Next, apply a 50-70mm layer of mulch on top – some work is involved but you will not regret it when the hotter months arrive. Happy gardening!