Latest news with #mulch
The Sun
5 days ago
- General
- The Sun
The £3.49 Lidl buy that stops weeds growing & it makes your flower beds more attractive too
LIDL is selling a cheap garden buy that stops weeds growing in your garden flower beds and makes them look good. The budget buy costs less than a £5 and can be found in most Lidl stores. For only £3.49 the garden buy is an essential in summer to help keep weeds at bay. A 40 litre bag of decorative wood chips can be purchased from any Lidl store. The chips can be used as mulch, weed suppression, decoration, moisture retention or all of the above. Spreading them around your flower beds helps to slow and prevent weed growth. The chips also lock in moisture and help your plants stay cool in the summer. They can also be used decoratively across your whole garden, covering borders, pathways and flower beds. At just 8.7p per litre the garden chips are a near unbeatable bargain buy. Expert gardeners recommend the chips for moisture retention. They help create a cool area above your soil, preventing water from evaporating and plants from drying out. The chips packaging says they are: "Ideal for all garden beds, borders and pathways." It adds that they offer "improved soil moisture control." 4 4 Experts say the chips can be used in compost to improve carbon content. They can also help to prevent soil compaction between flower rows among other benefits. Even when the chips break down they are still useful. After decomposing the woods leach nutrients into the soil and improve its overall health. It's recommended that the chips are placed on top of the soil rather than mixed through it. Not only will this improve your soil and plant health but it will help improve the overall look of your garden. The chips can be used to help plants, trees, bushes and flowers grow.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dispatch: Fire at Zeeland-area mulch supplier
BLENDON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Multiple fire departments are responding to a fire at a mulch supplier near Zeeland, dispatch confirmed. Around 2:25 p.m., Ottawa County Dispatch was notified of the fire at Mulch Pro on 96th Avenue north of Port Sheldon Street in Blendon Township. Mutual aid from Zeeland Township and Allendale were called to assist Blendon Township firefighters, dispatch said. As firefighters worked to put out the flames, smoke could be seen for miles. Dispatch told News 8 it was not aware of any injuries. It's not clear what caused the fire. News 8 has a crew at the scene and is working to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
09-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Fire department issues mulch warning as P.E.I.'s gardening and BBQ season arrives
Social Sharing It's the beginning of gardening season on Prince Edward Island, and that means many people will be using bark and straw mulch to keep weeds down and moisture in. It also means fire departments like Charlottetown's will likely be responding to a few mulch fires over the next several months as temperatures get warmer. Kent Mitchell, the city's deputy fire chief, said there have been no fires yet, but the department has responded to a few every week in summers past. "It's a highly combustible material, and quite often people use it in gardening applications," Mitchell said. "The issue with that is that it's up against combustible siding, decking, that type of thing." The best way to avoid mulch fires is to pick pea gravel or other types of stone as a ground cover, especially near houses. If you do want to use organic varieties based on shredded bark, tree needles or straw, Mitchell has some tips on doing it more safely: Keep mulch at least 45 centimetres away from buildings or structures. Make sure it's spread no more than about eight centimetres thick. Avoid keeping large piles in your yard because those can overheat on their own. If you do have a larger pile, keep it wet by spraying it often with a hose. Most importantly, though, Mitchell warns against putting any smoking material such as cigarette ends or used matches in or near mulch. He cautions Islanders against throwing butts or spent matches out of car windows at places like restaurant drive-throughs, which often have flower beds that include bark mulch. Aside from home gardens, it's commonly found outside apartment buildings, businesses and in municipal landscaping. Gardening season also means the start of barbecue season, so the deputy fire chief suggests keeping your grill at least 10 feet (about 3 metres) away from buildings and never leaving it unattended. Sparks from barbecues can also ignite your mulch, Mitchell pointed out. "It's a good gardening tool. It looks nice, but it is combustible, so we just have to keep that in mind," he said. "We certainly recommend just caution with mulch and caution with smoking around mulch."
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Gardening expert reveals vital step to keeping your lawn green and healthy during the summer heat
USING this one simple trick will help improve the health of your garden in warm weather, according to experts. Bokashi Living revealed that mulch is the one crucial element to keeping a healthy garden. 6 6 Applying a thick layer to your lawn will help boost soil health and protect your grass. The mulch will protect your soil from sun exposure and ensure your plants stay healthy in the summer heat. Gardening experts said this one trick will allow your plants to absorb all the nutrients from the surrounding soil. A thick layer of mulch will also reduce water evaporation from the soil according to the experts. Heatwaves can make it difficult to maintain a healthy looking lawn but a good layer of mulch will help with this. High temperatures and blazing sunlight can leave your grass brown, dry and prone to damage. 6 6 The heat and sunlight accelerates water evaporation from your soil leaving your plants and grass parched. Even regularly watering your garden may not help with water quickly being baked out of the soil in hot weather. Gardening mistakes that could get you fined Gardening experts over at Toolstation have revealed the garden laws you need to be aware of not breaking. While some of these laws could land you with a fine of up to £20,000 in extreme cases, a friendly chat with your neighbours can usually resolve any issues. Tree removal and pruning: If you have a tree in your garden you want to get rid of you better think twice and do your research. The gardening experts reveal: 'If one neighbour wishes to remove or heavily prune a tree that the other neighbour values, disputes can arise over the impact on the view, shade, or privacy. " While it might cause a row, if it is in your property boundary it is ultimately your choice, unless it has a Tree Protection Order on it. 'But, some trees may be protected by a Tree Protection Order which makes it an offence to uproot, top or destroy them, the experts warn. The maximum fine for breaking this law is £20,000, so make sure you double check if it does have a TPO. You can find out by contacting your local council for a map that shows this information. Alternatively, you can ask to speak with your local tree officer. Property boundaries and fences: One of the main causes of neighbours falling out is through arguing over property boundaries and fencing. To avoid this situation, the gardening pros recommend checking the deeds of your property to determine the correct boundaries 'Most of the time, it's easy to determine who owns the fence as the fence posts will usually be on the owners side," they add. 'Additionally, the height of fences or hedges can cause disputes between neighbours if one party feels the height has exceeded the two metre guidance. "Hedges and fences should be no more than two metres high, and you could be asked by the council to take them down if a neighbour complains about the height. "Luckily, standard fence sizes are less than two metres tall so you shouldn't have a problem.' Garden structures and additions: A pergola is the perfect addition to a garden if you want somewhere to relax in the shade. But if it obstructs your neighbour's view or violates local building regulations it could cause a dispute, as can sheds and other garden structures. 'If you're not sure, have a chat with your neighbours to let them know what you're planning and, if there's an issue, get in touch with your local council who can give you more guidance," advise the gardening experts. Overhanging branches and plants: 'When branches, vines, or roots from one neighbour's tree or plant extend into the neighbouring property, it can lead to disagreements over potential damage to structures, blocked views, or the burden of maintenance," reveal the pros. However, it's important to note you can only trim overhanging branches up to the boundary of your property otherwise, it could be seen as trespassing. You can climb into the tree to carry out the work if needed, but only on your property and make sure to stay on your side of the fence if you don't have permission to enter your neighbours garden. A layer of mulch helps to lock in moisture and nutrients and create a cool, wet surface for your plants to thrive in. There is a huge variety of mulch you can use to help protect your plants from the heat this summer. 6 6 Mulch is commonly made from organic material such as leaf mould, rotted manure or composted woodchips. Standard garden compost will also do the trick but mulch can even be made out of gravel and rocks. By composting garden and kitchen waste you can even make your own mulch. Gardening experts recommend using a thick layer of mulch this summer, homemade or shop-bought.
