[Esthalon]

Not sure if this is the right discussion to post this in but as I mainly have perennials here goes....

I mulched all my garden last year with coarse bark mulch, but now it's spring and I want to fertilise again, but of coarse the bark mulch is still there doing it's job. So can I chuck my Growmore granules down on top of the barkmulch and leave it to nature? I have a 1/2 acre so trying to get the Growmore under the mulch would probably be too time consuming.

Thoughts anyone?

[michael brenock]

the fertiliser will help the bark to rot or break down much faster but will not get to the roots of the perennials in the short term. Try growing the perennials without manure this year.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

[Esthalon]

Thanks Michael. I wasn't planning on putting manure down, just the Growmore granules, I was kind of hoping the rain would wash the granules/nutrients down in between the bark and so down to the roots of my plants. I can understand a layer of manure woudl rot down the bark mulch but I didn't think granules would?

[brennan.jm]

Think Michael meant that perhaps you don't need any fertiliser this year and I am inclined to agree.Maybe put the time into making good compost for next year and at that stage the mulch will be breaking down which will also help to feed the soil

[Esthalon]

Well that would be one less job to do!