IN THE GARDEN WITH ANNA: Now's the time to mulch your spring time garden

Long hot days are just around the corner and spending your spare time mulching your garden beds and pots will save you many hours of hanging off a hose when you surely have better things to do.

A good thick layer of mulch can reduce evaporation from the soil surface by as much as 70 per cent and is an absolute must in our hot, dry summer climate.

Mulching your garden will also help keep the weeds down, keep the soil cool during the hottest months, prevent soil erosion and break down into humus to improve soil texture and fertility.

Before laying mulch it is important you rid the area of any weeds present and also give the area a good deep soak.

Applying a wetting agent at this point will also help the water to soak deep into the root zone of your plants.

Spread your mulch at least 70 to 100mm thick over the area.

Please don't be stingy, it will be useless if it is not applied thickly enough. Try to keep the mulch clear of tree trunks and plant stems to allow air to flow and avoid stem rot.

So what sort of mulch should I use I hear you asking?

There are many natural, organic materials that are suitable for mulching that will break down over time and improve soil quality.

Easy to obtain organic options are sugar cane mulch, lucerne hay or straw and bark and leaf litter mulch.

Don't forget to mulch the tops of your pots while you are at it as they can dry out very fast on a hot day. Start mulching... there is not a moment to waste.