Six Best Mulches For Vegetable Gardens | A Simple Guide (2024)

Mulching is a great way to ensure your vegetable garden is thriving, with a variety of benefits including moisture retention, weed suppression and temperature regulation.

A well-chosen mulch can mean the difference between a thriving and lacklustre vegetable garden. Some key factors to consider include:

1. Plant Type: Different vegetable plants require different environments to thrive. Make sure to choose a mulch that is suitable for your plants.
2. Environment: Mulch is affected by different environmental factors such as temperature, rainfall, and humidity levels, so make sure it can withstand any potentially harsh conditions.
3. Decomposability: The lifespan will vary throughout different mulches. Organic mulches break down over time and enrich the soil. Ensure that the mulch you choose decomposes at a rate suitable for your specific plant type.
4. Practicality: If you want a mulch that can be easily applied and maintained without excessive effort, choose a lightweight option. These are easier to spread and handle compared to heavy mulch which requires more manpower.
5. Water-permeability: Make sure to use a mulch that allows for air circulation and effectively retains moisture. It’s best to avoid plastic mulches as they are not water-permeable and will result in problems later in the year.

Woodland mulch is made from a combination of softwood and hardwood materials chipped into small pieces. As a long-lasting organic mulch, it aids weed suppression, root protection and moisture retention, and is a popular choice amongst gardeners.

Best vegetables for wood chip mulch: Potatoes, legumes and root vegetables

Average time to breakdown: 1-3 years. Woodland mulch has a slower decomposition rate than other organic mulches.

Envar’s Woodland Mulch is a highly cost-effective mix of hardwood and softwood which will give your soil everything it needs to stay nourished. 100% British and available in 900-litre bulk bags, you can keep your vegetable gardens as healthy as possible.

Shredded leaves are an inexpensive and nutrient-rich mulching choice that can be used in many vegetable gardens. As leaves break down, they release macro and micronutrients essential to improving soil structure and drainage in your garden beds.

Best vegetables for leaf mulch: Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers

Average time to breakdown: 6 months – 1 year

Keep in mind: Unshredded leaves tend to mat to the surface and block water from entering the soil. To avoid this, shred them into smaller pieces using a lawn mower or mulcher.

Compost or soil improver is a great option for vegetable gardens as it is packed full of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are slowly released over time to ensure your plants receive a consistent supply.

Additionally, compost helps improve soil texture and structure, allowing for proper soil aeration and drainage. Compost also contains bacteria and fungi which promote healthy soil by breaking down organic matter.

Best vegetables for compost: Leafy greens, root vegetables, herbs

Average time to breakdown: Anywhere between two weeks and two years depending on the composted materials.

Try Envar’s Rejuvenate Compost Soil Improver, a peat-free soil improver made from naturally composted organic matter.

A popular choice for vegetable growing is mushroom compost, a substrate made from poultry manure, horse manure and straw that is great for retaining moisture during even the hottest days of the year.

Mushroom compost has a high alkaline content, is rich in nutrients, great for weed suppression, improves the quality of your soil and is widely versatile.

Best things to grow with mushroom compost: Root vegetables, leafy greens, herbs, and brassicas

Average time to breakdown: Three to four weeks

Keep in mind: Mushroom compost is high in salts so it should be used alongside two-parts soil when growing alongside other vegetables. As it’s very good at retaining water, it’s a good idea to not grow plants directly in it as they can get water-logged.

Envar Spent Mushroom Compost is an ideal choice for anyone needing to add high levels of phosphate, potassium, calcium and magnesium to their soil. Available in 900-litre bulk bags, they are great for a variety of applications and are guaranteed to give your plants the nutrients they need to thrive.

Often overlooked but provides fantastic benefits is recycling materials such as cardboard or newspapers. As an eco-friendly, low-cost and biodegradable option, simply shred any paper-based material and add it to the top layer of soil. When this gets wet, it will form a preventive layer on top that will slowly break down over time and enrich the soil with organic matter and nutrients.

Most people prefer to mix cardboard in with their compost as the brown colour looks blends in with the soil.

Best vegetables to use: Tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, leafy greens, and other vegetables that thrive in low and no-till gardening.

Average time to breakdown: Anywhere from 2 weeks to 12 months depending on thickness and quantity.

Keep in mind: Make sure to remove any leftover tape or other sealants that may still be left on as they can include unwanted chemicals that can harm the soil.

The best time to mulch your vegetable garden depends on various factors including the climate, the condition of the garden and how far along the vegetables are in growing.

It’s a good idea to wait until the soil has warmed up to a consistent temperature suitable for growing crops. It’s typically a good idea to start mulching as soon as the seedlings have been established as it will help protect the plant’s roots from temperature changes and moisture loss.

Mulch requires more than just an initial application and should be maintained throughout the year – for more information, check out our guide on the best ways to maintain mulch in spring, summer, autumn and winter.

For a healthier vegetable garden, we recommend steering clear of inorganic mulch as it doesn’t provide any nutrients, can decrease soil fertility as it breaks down, and prevents moisture from entering resulting in raised soil temperatures causing harm to your plant roots.

To set your vegetable plants up for success, opt for organic mulches like woodland mulch, compost or recycled paper materials. These mulches break down easily, are full of nutrients and will improve your soil’s structure.

If you’re new to mulching, check out our full beginner’s guide to mulch covering what mulch is, the best time to use it and more.

At Envar, we have over 30 years of experience in helping home gardeners and business customers with composting and mulching, offering advice and recommendations that work best for the situation at hand.

Get in touch with us today at 01487 849 840 or enquiries@envar.co.uk, and a member of our team will be happy to help.