help! what on earth is mulching?

[julen]

Can anyone help me out (utterly ignorant beginner-gardener that I am) please? What is mulching? A step by step explanation would be great, as I really don't have a clue. And I mean really not a clue.

Not an expert, but we take it to mean that you dig fertiliser or home grown compost into your soil to prepare it for the growing season.

Think its a smelly business!!!

I just got the rasperry canes that I ordered (thought I'd jump in at the deep end), and it says something about mulching to keep the soil moist in hot spells - does it involve covering the soil with something (rotten leaves and stuff...???) as well?

Definatly smelly then!

If its just to keep the soil moist in hot spells try spreading bark chippings over the top of the soil after planting. Give the plants a good watering first.

The bark will allow water to soak through it into the soil but will ensure the soil does not dry out quickly. The bark will also rot into the soil which will replace lost nutrients.

I mulch useing grass cuttings. Not sure it this is right but the ground does stay moist. Plus the bouns is that slugs don't like fresh grass cuttings.

thanks for this, that's really helpful

Mulching is covering the ground with something that will keep the moisture in and stifle the weeds. there are loads of different things you can use to mulch - bark chippings, grass cuttings, posh shop-bought compost, gravel, old carpet all do the job.

Raspberries like being mulched because they are shallow rooted but don't like drying out.

Some mulches are wetter than others, and the wet ones do tend to make an environment that slugs like. grass clippings are a good case - the slugs don't eat the grass but they do like the moist slimy atmosphere (in my bitter experience).

BUT good news - slugs don't damage raspberry canes, so you can use grass clippings for mulch.

the trick is to do it deep - at least 10cm/3 inches.

Enjoy your raspberries - hope you have got some netting to keep the birds off, by the way