Maintaining
Mulch and weed-suppression upkeep
Cocoa shell mulch contains theobromine, the same chemical as in chocolate, and can poison dogs that eat it. Use bark, compost or leaf mould instead where dogs can reach, and keep pets off freshly manured zones.
- Where to get help
- Your vet, Animal PoisonLine, or the Veterinary Poisons Information Service.
A thick mulch smothers weed seedlings, locks in soil moisture, feeds soil life and steadies soil temperature. Topping it up matters because organic mulch rots down into the soil and thins over the year, which lets weeds back in.
When
Top mulch up once or twice a year, best in mid to late spring or in autumn when the soil is moist, warm and largely weed free. Check weed-suppressing membrane and bark paths through the year.
How
1. Weed the ground thoroughly first, and water if it is dry. 2. Spread a 5 to 8cm layer of organic mulch (garden compost, well-rotted manure, leaf mould or bark) over the zones. 3. Keep mulch clear of plant stems and tree trunks to stop them rotting. 4. On paths and under shrubs, lay or repair permeable landscape membrane and cover it with bark or gravel. 5. Hoe or pull out any weeds that root into the mulch surface as they appear.
Notes
Only mulch moist, weed-free soil, or you seal in dryness and weeds. Home-made compost and leaf mould are cheap and low waste. Do not use cocoa shell mulch where dogs have access.