Confused re soil, compost, mulch!

[wheeliegood]

Hello, beginner gardener here... I'm confused as to how to best look after my borders. I want to build up soil overall as is all looking a bit sorry and some bulbs (tulips I think) have risen to the surface. Can I just pop down some compost or should I do a mix of compost and top soil? And I understand I should mulch. I assume that goes on top of the soil/compost. But will it stop bulbs and new plants coming through? Are only supposed to mulch where you know there are definitely no plants expected?

You usually mulch in Autumn to protect plants that could be harmed by frost, the mulch then rots down into the soil, plants will grow up through the mulch. You can feed your plants with plant food sprinkled on the surface that then washes down to the roots with the rain, I don't think it is usually a good idea to bury plants deeper than they were originally by adding a lot of top soil or compost (also quite expensive) some plants resent this (I think bulbs should find their own level after a few years). If you plant new plants add compost to the planting holes. If your bulbs are on the surface dig or auger holes (to the right depth for the bulbs) and replant. Mulching every year should gradually improve the soil. You could top dress with a light layer of compost in the spring.

Ah, okay. Thank you so much for the advice. I had looked stuff up on the internet but end up getting overwhelmed! Thanks again.

You shouldn't need top soil if you already have soil there. Bulbs have pushed their way up through the soil already, so won't have any difficulty pushing through compost.

Mulching is just adding things on top, so compost, manure, leaf mould etc. You don't need to dig it in, the worms will do that for you. Frequently the foxes in my garden too!

Thank you for starting this thread - I was also a bit confused! Is it not ok to mulch now? My husband has kindly bought me a load of manure, is it too late!? (Who says romance is dead?).

Fine to mulch now. The soil is still wet. It's not usually advised to mulch on dry soil in case it stops the water getting to the soil. On the other hand, I wonder if there aren't times when it would be OK, eg if the soil was parched and compacted and heavy rain likely to just run off, would the mulch be better at keeping the water in place, eventually to soak through to the soil beneath?

Brilliant!

My husband has kindly bought me a load of manure, is it too late!?
I think that, in gardening, people sometimes get caught up in counsels of perfection. There is a difference between "you must do it now" and "now would be the ideal time".
It's late for manure but so what? Late manure is better than no manure. Having said that, they do say not to put it on frozen ground because you are then trapping the coldness in, effectively keeping the frost going longer.

Thanks very much - I will wait till it warms up a smidge. Much appreciated!

Manure is fine.
Leaves, grass clippings, compost, too.

That commercial stuff of chipped wood isn't great for beneficial insects. I'd avoid.

Also, though it is changing, “traditional wisdom” has come from large gardens with dedicated gardeners, required to aim for perfection. Not gardening fitted in amongst the rest of life and needing to be only “good enough”. (No point in maximising courgette yield if you don’t eat that many)

Ensure the manure is well rotted/composted or you will be forever plagued by rye grass.