Make the most of mulch month

Mulch your garden this November, and you’ll be set for a healthy summer garden that’s also water efficient.

Greater Wellington wants to encourage gardeners to see November as “mulch month” because it’s a win-win, says Greater Wellington’s Water Marketing Advisor Shelley Grant.

“Gardeners get an easy-care summer garden thanks to mulch’s ability to help suppress weeds and improve soil structure. Mulch locks in moisture for longer too, so you won’t need to water so often, which also helps to conserve water.”

Shelley says the water conservation benefits of mulch are especially important in the dry summer months when tougher water restrictions may be needed. Daily water demand can be 50% higher than on an average winter day, with much of that demand coming from garden watering.

To tempt more gardeners to mulch, many garden centres and hardware outlets are offering great deals on mulch throughout November. For more information on mulch, including price deals and participating retailers, see www.bethedifference.gw.govt.nz.

Gardeners should follow these four simple steps to keep a healthy garden and conserve water:

•       Use mulch
•       Test to see if your soil really needs watering
•       Target water straight to your plant's roots
•       Time sprinkler sessions to 30 minutes – once a week should be enough