This summer is predicted to be hotter than usual and you don’t want your garden drying out, as plants and trees can die.

The benefits of mulch are

• it retains moisture in the soil
• it controls weeds
• organic mulch like bark decomposes to enrich the soil

There wasn’t any need for moisture retention last summer as it was so wet, but you’ll have noticed that the last month has been quite dry: according to the Greater Wellington Region Council rainfall meter at the Waikanae Water Treatment Plant, the last 30 days has been only 32 mm.