Organic Mulch or Decorative Stones – Which is Better for Your Flower Beds?

To give your plants the best chance of surviving and flourishing, it’s a good idea to put some form of protective layer in the beds. As experts when it comes to garden bark in Essex, Cambridgeshire and across East Anglia, we at Madingley Mulch know that two of your main choices are either an organic mulch such as bark, or some decorative stones. Here we look at their respective advantages of the two alternatives.

 

Advantages of Bark

Bark is a natural solution – not only will it retain moisture in summer, allow rain to penetrate the beds in winter, and deter weeds all year round, it will also improve the structure of your soil. It’s also very easy to work with and lightweight compared to some decorative stones, larger stones in particular, so installing it won’t be so difficult.

You don’t have to worry about natural debris, such as leaves and dirt, spoiling the look as to some extent they are already part of the mulch and will blend in. It’s also cheaper than many types of decorative stones – and you won’t need to buy any extras such as an extra base layer of aggregates.

Bark will also help the plant roots cope with temperature extremes, whereas some decorative stones can make the beds much hotter, as their surfaces will absorb more heat.

 

Advantages of Decorative Stones

Despite our name, at Madingley Mulch we also supply many different types of decorative stone in Cambridge and the surrounding area and can vouch for its advantages.

Decorative stones won’t need replenishing as often as a bark mulch (which should ideally be replaced every year). This means stones are an ideal choice for someone who is pressed for time and is after a relatively low-maintenance garden.

There are also plenty of different varieties to pick from when it comes to the size, colour and shape of your stones. The same is also true of mulches, but the differences aren’t so marked; the net result is that a decorative stone layer for your flower beds will look much more striking, and make your garden really stand out.

Decorative stones have some of the same essential properties of a bark-based mulch; for example they will still help prevent weeds from poking their unwanted heads through. It also won’t matter so much if people tread on the stones – you won’t be damaging the soil and there’s less chance of getting the rest of the garden (and house) dirty. And heavier stones are less likely to blow all over the rest of the garden.

They also have very strong utility and can be used in other parts of the garden too, as pathways or driveways.

 

Decorative Stones and Garden Bark Mulches from Madingley Mulch in Cambridge

So, it may be down to personal choice and how much time you have –- although It’s worth noting that the commonest soil type in the East of England is a clay mixture – and the Royal Horticultural Society says that an organic mulch (such as bark) may be a better option because of the improved drainage it offers.

But whichever one you choose, at Madingley Mulch we stock both types of products.

For our range of decorative stone chippings, follow this link – there’s plenty to choose from with a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes. We also stock a range of mulches and composts. These include our exclusive products, Tony’s Tonic and Denise’s Delight.

And, whatever type you opt for, we’d also recommend some kerb edging stones which will keep the stones or mulch where it belongs – in the flower beds.

We realise that a big order – for either stones or mulch – is going to be heavy work, even if you can fit it all in your car. Check out our deliveries page to find out how we can help you get all your materials home safely.

How to Improve Your Garden’s Soil

One of the principal ways of ensuring you get full value out of any flowers, shrubs, fruit and vegetables you plant in your garden is to ensure that you know what soil type you have – and what you can do to improve it – and, as a consequence, the growth of your plants.

Madingley Mulch, suppliers of soil conditioners in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, look at the main soil types found in the UK, what sort of plants they are most suitable for, and what you can do to improve your growing conditions.

 

Clay Soils

Clay soil is the main type of soil found in the East of England (where most of our customers are located). You will know you’ve got clay in your soil if you can roll it into a sausage shape between your fingers without it breaking up.

Sadly, it’s not ideal for growing many different types of plants because it has a rather sticky texture. It retains water so well it’s easy for some species to get waterlogged. Without any treatment hydrangeas and hardy geraniums do well in this type of soil, if you don’t want to add anything to it.

However, the best course of action to treat the clay soil is to add some organic mulch – this will break down the clay into smaller particles, making the nutrients more readily accessible to your plants’ roots.

This also makes the soil more easily workable and less likely to suffer from compaction, which is a bad thing because it means the air spaces are much smaller. Air spaces in the soil are essential for good drainage, and the movement of gases and plant roots (the roots suffer because they tend to be much shallower).

 

Sandy Soils

As you might expect, sandy soil has a gritty element – it should fall through your fingers easily. It will also drain quickly after rain or watering. However, because sandy soils don’t retain moisture very well, there are two steps you can take.

One is to opt for drought-tolerant plants, such as geraniums, buddleija, conifers such as cypress trees or fruit and vegetables such as rhubarb, chard and asparagus – all of these will need very little watering once they become established.

The other option is to improve the soil – organic matter such as leaf mould or tree bark will increase the alkaline content of the soil (it’s usually very acidic to start with) which will improve the growing conditions.

 

Silt Soils

Silt soils are quite similar to sandy soils in that they are quite light – they have a slightly slippery, soapy texture and can easily be damaged by heavy wind and rain, particularly if they form an external crust.

You can either compact the soil by stepping on it or using a hand or machine tool; the other solution is to grow something on it.

Silt soils are more fertile than sandy soils, so this should be relatively straightforward – but again it’s a good idea to add some mulch as this will bind the soil together. The best plants to grow in this type of ground are trees such as willow, birch and cypress, and most fruit and vegetables, if the drainage is good enough.

 

Loam Soils

Loam soils have a mixture of all the above soil types’ characteristics. It has a crumbly texture and is known as ‘the gardener’s friend’ – it keeps moisture well, has a good mix of nutrients, and warms up quickly in the spring.

The best plants to grow in a loam soil include most fruit and veg, such as tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and strawberries – but you should be able to grow most plants in it without too much help.

However, it is still worth adding a mulch to the soil, particularly if you are replacing the plants every year (or growing fruit and vegetables in it) as you will be removing some of the nutrients when you cultivate it. It’s also important to note that some loamy soils may contain stones, so take care when you do your cultivating and harvesting.

 

Chalk Soils

Chal soils have a high alkaline content thanks to the presence of the chalk in the soil. In the UK these soil varieties are mainly found in areas with high deposits of calcium or limestone, such as the South Downs, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Chiltern Hills – not usually the East of England.

Like the loam soils, they may well have stones (or flints) in them. They are also very free draining and difficult to keep fertile. This means it may be better to stick to growing items which thrive in this sort of soil – such as lavendula, geraniums and clematis – rather than trying to fertilize the ground.

 

Madingley Mulch – Bark Mulch Suppliers in Cambridge

The one common denominator with all these types of soils is that (with the possible exception of chalk soils) they can be improved with an organic mulch or soil conditioner to help improve plant growth and produce yield.

This is where we at Madingley Mulch come into our own – as our name suggests, we are specialists when it comes to mulch, supplying it and other types of soil conditioners in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and around East Anglia.

These include various types of barks, mulches and soils, conditioners and composts.

You can also call us on 01954 212144 if you need any help.

How Madingley Mulch Can Help Improve Your Clay Soil

Keen gardeners know how much type of soil can vary greatly between regions, and this in turn affects how easy it is to cultivate certain plants.  One of the biggest problems gardeners in the East of England face is the clay soil – it’s a sticky substance which means that it can be difficult to grow many different types of fruit, vegetables, and flowers.

Here Madingley Mulch, who supply bark chippings in Essex, Cambridgeshire and across the East of England, explain why it’s a problem and the various steps you can take to mitigate its effects.

 

Clay Soil Characteristics…

Although there are other soil types in the East of England clay is by far the commonest. You will know if you have a clay soil in your garden or allotment if it feels slightly sticky or dense between your fingers. You can also roll it into a ball, or a sausage shape, and it won’t crack or break up.

The key characteristics of clay soil is that it holds water well and is usually rich in plant nutrients. Although it can be a problem for some, some species of plants (such as roses and other climbers, and some trees and shrubs) thrive in this type of soil.

 

…and Problems

However, on the flip side, clay soil is usually heavy to dig and cultivate, and it drains slowly after rain. It also warms up slowly as summer approaches, leading to delayed plant growth and ‘workability’. If you walk on the soil, or work with it when it’s wet, you’ll do a lot of damage to its structure (and probably create a lot of puddles which will take a long time to drain away).

Annuals, bedding plants, and some types of soft fruits (raspberries and strawberries, for instance) are best avoided unless you take steps to improve the soil.

 

What Can You Do About It?

The Royal Horticultural Society has outlined a series of steps which you can take if you have clay soil in your garden;

• Don’t dig into it or walk on it until autumn or early winter – then leave it until at least mid-spring because the chances are it will be too wet.
• Avoid planting too early (unless you have a raised bed – as this will improve drainage, and you won’t be walking on it).
• And finally, use plenty of organic matter, such as manure or composted bark, as this will improve the working properties of the clay soil.

Specifically, when it comes to some trees, shrubs, and other permanent plants, use plenty of organic mulch around the base (although not actually touching the plant itself).

 

Bark Chippings in Essex from Madingley Mulch

This last area is where Madingley Mulch are specialists. We supply a wide range of mulches, barks, composts and soil conditioners from our Cambridge base which will help you improve your growing conditions – particularly if you fancy growing bedding plants and annuals.

Among these are our range of barks – these can be used as mulches and flower bed coverings, as well as for play areas and for paths if you haven’t got time to lay paving slabs. We also supply two exclusive products, Denise’s Delight, ideal for use in raised beds, and Tony’s Tonic, great for growing roses and for use as a winter mulch.

If you would like to know more, you can call us on 01954 212144. You can either collect your order from us, or have it delivered – we operate a sliding scale of charges depending on how close to you are to us. Click here for more details.

Why Sand is a Great All-Purpose Addition to Your Garden

Sand isn’t just something you build castles out of on a visit to the seaside. It can form an integral part of your garden too – although you have to be careful to pick the right type depending on what you want to use it for.

Madingley Mulch supply children’s sand – and many other types – to customers in Suffolk and across East Anglia; here we explain how sand is formed, and some of its key varieties and uses.

 

How Sand is Formed

Sand is formed when rocks break down from weathering and erosion – this process can take thousands and millions of years. The rocks travel down rivers and streams, eroding along the way due to the currents and colliding with river banks and other rocks, until they finally reach the ocean, when they are eroded still further due to waves and tides into the sand we see on beaches around the world.

The tan colour which these particles have is down to the presence of iron oxides in sand;, these substances are not fully broken down by the process of erosion.

 

Building Sand

Because of its innate strength (the rocks it originally came from) sand has plenty of uses in the construction sector. It helps provide strength and stability to other materials and also can be used on its own.

The other materials include ballast (which also includes sharp sand and graded gravel, and can help where concrete is needed in any project) and cement. You can also get different types depending on how fine the particles of sand are – for instance the aforementioned sharp sand can be used for a bed for patio and paving slabs, while soft sand can be used to mix mortar if you are building a brick wall or laying down some stone slabs.

 

Children’s Play Sand

There are plenty of studies which show how youngsters benefit from playing with sand – it helps their motor skills, their hand-eye co-ordination, their muscle development and their imagination and creativity – and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love building a good sandcastle?

It can also help with their social skills if they are sharing the sand ‘space’ with one or more other youngsters (either friends or family). However, you need to ensure that the sand is relatively fine, so they won’t hurt themselves playing in it.

At Madingley Mulch, our play sand is free of stones and is also stain free – meaning that a playtime sessions create problems for your washing machine or your children’s clothes.

 

Get Your Aggregates from Madingley Mulch

At Madingley Mulch, we don’t just supply all these types of sand, but a complete range of aggregates as well so we can effectively act as a one-stop shop for all your garden construction projects – whether you’re looking to lay patio slabs or set up a play area for your children.

Our range includes gravels, stones and drainage aggregates and sub-base aggregates including hardcore.

If you are interested in buying any of these just click on the above links and order them from our online shop; if you want any more information, you can call us on 01954 212144.

 

And We Can Deliver to your Door Too

We appreciate that sand – even the softer or finer mixtures – as well as the aggregates can be quite heavy and difficult to take away from our Cambridgeshire base, so we also offer a delivery service as well.

We now operate a sliding scale of delivery charges, from £2 per delivery unit if you are less than five miles from our Cambridge base, to £15 per unit if you are 30-40 miles away – and we can deliver even further away as well (call the number above for more details). The current lead time on all orders is between one and seven working days.

So we can act as your aggregate suppliers in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Essex as well as our home county of Cambridgeshire.

Compost – How it Works and Why You Should Use It

One of the most important ways of improving your garden is by adding some compost to the flower beds. Compost will improve your plant’s growth and overall health by providing valuable nutrients, will conserve water and discourage weeds from germinating. But what exactly is it, and how does it work?

Madingley Mulch supply compost to customers in Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and our home county of Cambridgeshire; here we explain some of the finer points of this garden staple and break down the differences between soil conditioners and compost.

 

What is Compost?

Compost is defined as ‘a decayed mixture of plants and other organic materials that is used to improve the soil in a garden’. These materials can include plant trimmings, vegetable waste, and even paper, wood chips, eggshells and teabags.

As well as improving your soil and helping your plants grow, compost is also extremely environmentally-friendly – it avoids the use of peat, which can release carbon when it is extracted from its natural habitat (for more details check out our previous blog here), so it’s a great option for those looking to both improve their garden’s growth and also lower their carbon footprint.

Creating your own compost heap is also a great way of recycling materials like those listed above – it means that a lot of rubbish need not go into your waste bin or end up in landfill.

 

How Does Compost Work?

As the material begins to decay, bacteria and fungi break down the materials in the compost heap. During this process the compost will heat up to around 140F (60C); once this process is complete it will cool down. Small creatures such as worms and insects will then break down the harder material.

The compost can eventually be spread onto the soil which will absorb the nutrients still present in the compost such as potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. Compost is particularly beneficial for plant roots.

The whole process of creating your own compost takes between two months and a year, depending on a variety of factors. The volume of material, the time of year, the temperature, the thickness and density of the material and how often you turn it can all factor into the time it takes for the compost to form.

If you don’t want to wait that long, then you can buy it ready-made from us – this has the added advantage that it has been tried and tested (and different ones can be used for different soil types or growing conditions).

 

The Difference Between Soil Conditioners and Compost

Soil conditioners and composts are different products, although both of them can benefit both your soil and your plants’ growth.

The former improves the soil’s structure whereas the latter adds nutrients. Compost also improves moisture retention, so you don’t need to water your garden as often (and it helps provide a home, and food, for the various creatures in your garden).

 

Soil Conditioners and Compost in Suffolk from Madingley Mulch

At Madingley Mulch, we stock a range of composts; these include our spent mushroom compost, which contains horse manure and composted straw; this is particularly good at breaking down the heavy clay soils which are common in East Anglia.

Our specialist product, Denise’s Delight, combines the virtues of both compost and soil conditioner, as it contains both Black Fen soil as well as horse manure and other plant nutrients.

We also supply and deliver soil conditioners – for instance the lawn dressing which we stock at our Cambridge base is a soil conditioner which will smooth over the surface of the grass, protect it during the winter months as well as improving drainage and overall soil quality.

For a full breakdown of all the soil conditioners and composts we can deliver to customers in Suffolk and across East Anglia, click here.

If you can’t make it to our base on the outskirts of Cambridge, then we can deliver it to you – for more details check out our delivery page here. You can also call us on 01954 212144 and we will be happy to give you advice.

Top Trends from the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show

One of the biggest events in the UK’s gardening calendar, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, has just taken place in London. Here Madingley Mulch, who supply DIY building materials in Cambridge and the surrounding area, analyse some of the leading garden trends from the latest annual show.

 

Imaginative Water Features

This year, many of the gardens had inbuilt water features. The WaterAid Garden drew water down funnels into a shallow channel and into a series of ponds. And the Flood: Re Flood Resilient Garden used a series of galvanised water tanks (at varying heights) with inbuilt spouts.

And even this year’s Best Balcony and Container Garden made full use of water in the middle of some lush greenery. The Ecotherapy Garden used a series of waterspouts and pools which fed through into a final plunge pool. The idea was that the users benefit not just from a cold dip, but also from the soothing sound of the water.

All these features – just like a common-or-garden water butt – lessened the need for any manual watering of plants. This is an important consideration given the extremes of climate the UK and the wider world has seen over recent years.

 

Low-Level Lighting

Although artificial light isn’t particularly eco-friendly, there are circumstances in which it can be helpful. The National Autistic Society’s Garden made use of low-level lighting to create safe steps at night through a garden which evolves from wetland meadow to birch woodland.

And the Boodles National Gallery Garden, which won the Best Construction Award in the Sanctuary Garden category, used colour-coordinated path lights to match the planting scheme.

 

The Garden is Still a Place to Relax

The winner of the Best Show Garden was Muscular Dystrophy UK, with their Forest Bathing Garden. More than 40 trees were used to create a forest-like atmosphere of calm which would benefit MD sufferers, their family and friends, as well as doctors and other clinicians. Reclaimed hard landscaping materials, including slate, tiles and pavers, meant it was a sustainable project as well.

And the Best Sanctuary Garden was the Burma Skincare’s Spirit of Partnership Garden. The garden made clever use of bark, moss and lichens, pictured, alongside some lush greenery. It tells the story of a partnership which supports Burmese healthcare workers treating adults and children with debilitating skin conditions.

All the plants in this garden are native to Myanmar, but they can be grown in the UK; many of them are wildlife-friendly and will help support birds, bees and other insects.

 

DIY Building Materials in Cambridge with Madingley Mulch

Whatever type of garden you are looking for, whether it’s been inspired by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show or not, Madingley Mulch should be able to help. We supply a wide variety of mulches, barks, soil conditioners and composts to help your plants thrive.

Our exclusive soil conditioners – which we supply to customers in Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk as well as Cambridgeshire –  include Tony’s Tonic and Denise’s Delight. The latter is a natural soil conditioner with an exclusive mix of Black Fen soil, horse manure, wood shavings and other plant nutrients.

We also stock a variety of hard landscaping materials, including building sand and ballast, plus a selection of gravels, round stones, shingle, decorative stones and pebbles.

For more information check out our online shop here. You can also call us on 01954 212144 with your queries.

 

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 Main Award Winners:

• Best Construction Award (Show Garden) – Terrence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 Garden
• Best Construction Award (Sanctuary Garden) – The Boodles Garden, built by Gadd Brothers Trees and Landscapes
• Best Balcony and Container Garden – The Ecotherapy Garden, designed by Tom Bannister
• Best All About Plants Garden – The Size of Wales Garden, designed by Dan Bristow.

Top Tips on How to Prepare Your Garden for Landscaping

As we reach summer, and the weather finally starts to dry out a little, it’s an opportune time to carry out any landscaping projects in your garden.

However, whether you’re planning to lay paving slabs, decking or build some raised beds, you are likely to need to carry out a certain amount of preparation in order to ensure that your garden is ready for the job.

As experts when it comes to landscaping supplies and topsoil in Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire – here are our top tips for preparing your garden for a landscaping job.

 

Measure Up

Many gardens have slopes which should be levelled out before plants can be grown. Even if you aren’t looking to grow anything new, it’s a good idea to get rid of any slopes regardless, as often they lead to muddy or wet patches and puddles which don’t drain well after periods of heavy rain.

And, if you want to lay a patio or decking, you will definitely need a level surface.

The best way of marking the level of your garden is to have some marker stakes with some string – stretch the string out straight between the stakes at the height you want your soil to be (a spirit level may help here).

 

Level Up (or Down)

If you’re looking to level out a small area, you may be able to do the heavy work yourself with a spade, shovel, tiller or rotavator.

If it’s a big area, you may be better off getting a professional in to carry out the work – while it may end up a bit more expensive you will have the assurance that it will be carried out to a professional standard.

Once you have identified and marked out the area you want to level up, dig down to a depth of around 20cm and mix up the soil with a rake – this will improve the soil’s texture and help provide healthier base for any new plants you want to grow.

You can then add some topsoil to level everything up (or remove soil from other parts of the garden if you’re levelling up in one part, and down in another).

 

Remove Weeds

Removing weeds is something you need to keep on top of at all times – not just in project preparation but also later on. Even if you fully clear your garden of weeds, you will quickly find them sprouting up again after a week or so.

Make sure all parts of the garden are as free as possible from these unwanted plants – and that means removing them with forks, trowels and other garden tools – and not just from any area which you are levelling up. It can sometimes seem like a daunting task, but your garden will look all the better for it.

In the longer term, weed suppressing membranes are a good idea if you want to grow new plants in the landscaped area – as is mulch as these will make it much harder for the weeds to germinate (as well as allowing your own plants to survive and flourish). Weed membranes are also a great idea for placing underneath areas of stones, pebbles or aggregate to stop weeds from poking through.

 

Keep Everything Flat

As we’ve already mentioned, it’s usually important that every surface in your garden is as flat as possible (unless you are working with a tiered garden design) – this particularly applies if you are laying down a patio.

You can tamp down the soil surface with the back of a space, although a roller is better. If you are laying down a patio, a layer of sand or hardcore on the top may help maintain the levelness over time.

Whatever you do, you should let the levelled area settle for a few days before embarking on the next stage of the project – whether that’s to lay new turf, plant new flowers or shrubs, or lay down some patio or paving slabs.

If you are laying down some turf, check out our previous blog here for some helpful advice.

 

Madingley Mulch – Topsoil and Turf Suppliers in Cambridge and across East Anglia

At Madingley Mulch we stock a range of tools and other products to help you with any landscaping project.  Check out our online shop here for our range of tools – these include spades, shovels and wheelbarrows to help with any heavy work.

If you are laying down a patio, then our range of paving slabs can be found here – you should be able to find a colour or style that suits you. And our selection of high-quality new turf can be found here – we are one of the leading turf suppliers in Cambridge and the surrounding area.

Remember, we can not only supply topsoil to customers in Suffolk, Essex, Bedfordshire and our home county of Cambridgeshire, we can deliver it to your door as well – for more details of our delivery services, check out this page.

If you are not sure what product best suits your garden landscaping project, feel free to call us on 01954 212144 and we will be happy to give you some advice.

Five Reasons Why Spent Mushroom Compost is Good For Your Garden

Mushroom compost is one of the many soil conditioners and improvers we stock at our shop on the edge of Cambridge. Here we explain what it is, and how it can benefit gardeners across East Anglia looking to improve the quality of their soil.

 

What is Spent Mushroom Compost?

Spent mushroom compost is a by-product of the mushroom growing process consisting of composted straw and well-rotted animal manure – usually horse or chicken.

Mushroom farmers can use it for two or three crops – which is why it’s also known as spent mushroom compost. However, it still has some handy uses in gardens up and down the country.

Before it comes to us it is sterilised at high temperature to remove any pests, diseases or weeds. We can then sell it on, secure in the knowledge that it will be beneficial to your garden. But why, and what’s the benefit for gardeners?

 

It Improves Your Existing Soil Structure

Like other soil conditioners and organic mulches, spent mushroom compost improves the structure of the soil – it effectively makes it easier for air, water and nutrients to get to your plants more easily, aiding the growth of your plants.

 

It Breaks Up Heavy Soil

Mushroom compost’s organic matter and high levels of nitrogen help to break up heavy soils and loosen clay particles. This is particularly useful for gardeners in Cambridge and across the east of England, as the soil here tends to have a high clay content.

This can be hard on your plants, as clay is heavy, very sticky and quite hard to work with. It is made up of lots of tiny mineral particles which reduce the space for air to circulate – but mushroom-based compost will help solve this problem.

 

It Boosts Soil Drainage

The organic matter in the compost creates pore spaces in the soil structure which means that any excess water can drain away more easily and ensures that your soil, plants and crops do not become waterlogged.

This has been particularly important in the past few months, given the amount of rain the country – including the Cambridge area – has had.

 

It Reduces Weed Growth

Again, as with other soil conditioners and mulches, this type of compost can help reduce weed growth (which deprives the plants you do want to thrive of valuable nutrients).

When applied, spent mushroom compost effectively acts as a mulch, providing a physical barrier which prevents any weeds from germinating and growing. Usually, it should be applied to a depth of 2-3 inches (without touching the plants themselves – and our mushroom compost isn’t ideal for planting straight into).

 

It’s Rich in Nutrients

Although it’s effectively already been used, spent mushroom compost still has plenty of valuable plant nutrients. These include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, all of which are essential for plant growth.

As it slowly decomposes, the compost releases these nutrients into the soil, providing a steady supply of food for your plants.

This will enable you to grow a wide range of flowers and vegetables; these include root veg such as onions, potatoes and carrots; leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach and kale; fruit vegetables including tomatoes and peppers; many herbs including basil, parsley and rosemary; and flowers including roses, sunflowers, marigolds, petunias and dahlias.

 

Mushroom Compost in Cambridge from Madingley Mulch

Our spent mushroom compost can be found in our online shop here.

Remember, we stock a range of other mulches, composts and soil conditioners to customers as far afield as Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk as well as our home county of Cambridgeshire. These include Tony’s Tonic and Denise’s Delight, which are both sold exclusively by Madingley Mulch.

Feel free to call us on 01954 212144 if you need any advice on which one is best for your garden, and if you do live a distance away from us, we do offer deliveries which are charged on a sliding scale and are available for all orders in excess of £50. For more details follow this link.

Gardens to Visit in and Around Cambridge

If you need any inspiration for your own garden, then why not combine a visit to our base on the outskirts of Cambridge with a visit to the city itself? There are plenty of gardens – some of which are listed below – which are open the public which could provide you with inspiration for your own outdoor space – and then you could come and see us for all your outdoor gardening supplies in Cambridge and the surrounding area.

 

Christ’s College Gardens

These gardens are located in St Andrew’s Street in the heart of the city. It comprises the First, Second and Third Courts, the Fellows’ Garden and the Darwin Garden (there is a Master’s Garden too, but this isn’t open to the public).

The First Court is notable for its circular lawn, and its enclosed nature which allows the college to grow a variety of shrubs and wisteria. The Second Court has a series of formal lawns accompanied by more informal summer bedding plants; and the Third Court has an extensive collection of irises and salvias.

The Fellows’ Garden has plenty of shrubs, trees and winding paths, as well as a bathing pool near the bottom end, and some beehives (the honey is collected and given to the college Fellows). The Darwin Garden is a recent addition; it was created in 2009 and honours the bicentenary of the birth of explorer Charles Darwin. The garden contains the types of plants he would have encountered on his famous voyages on HMS Beagle.

For details of opening times check the website.

 

Cambridge University Botanic Gardens

Close to the Cambridge train station, the Botanic Gardens (pictured at the top of this article) span 40 acres and include more than 8,000 varieties of plants, split into various themed gardens. These include dry gardens (and meadows), rock gardens, areas devoted to specific types of flowers (such as snowdrops and roses) and some spectacular Giant Redwood trees.

There’s plenty to keep children interested as well – not just the focal points such as the lake and the fountain, but the schools’ garden and the grass maze. Provided they are under 16, entry is free (although there is a charge for adults).

Opening times vary depending on the season; check the website before you go. There are also a number of special events run throughout the year which may be of interest as well.

 

Trinity Hall Gardens

This garden is split into two separate sites. The Central entrance includes the Front Court, Latham Court, North Court, Avery Court and the Fellows’ Garden. The Front Court has plenty of irises, roses, lavender, fuchsias and trailing plants, while Latham Court (the next area you come to) is dominated by magnolias and beech and yew trees.

Avery Court has plenty of trailers and shrubs alongside ferns, hellebores agapanthus and wisteria North Court is the smallest of the gardens, and it includes hornbeams and pyracantha. The Fellows’ Garden contains shrubs, herbaceous plants, roses, trees and bulbs.

Trinity Hall’s Wychfield site (which includes Greenhouse Court, Round Court and Green Lane) incorporates a couple of special features alongside a rich variety of plants. The sunken garden mixes hedges and herbaceous borders, while there are a number of mature trees dotted around the gardens.

Check the website for opening times.

 

Newnham College Gardens

These gardens are just a 10-minute walk from the city centre; its grounds are often called the Secret Gardens of Cambridge. The gardens are set in 17 acres and broken up into large lawns and wildflower areas, as well as herbaceous borders and formal gardens.

As with Trinity Hall, there is also a sunken garden – although this specialises in roses and has a formal pool, which is dedicated to the co-founder Henry Sidgwick. You should check the website for opening times.

 

Madingley Hall Gardens

This seven-acre garden is just under a mile away from our base. Although the Hall was built in the mid-16th century, the first evidence of an accompanying garden only comes two centuries later. The famed landscape designer Capability Brown was responsible for the initial informal style (with plenty of grasses and trees dotted about). Subsequent changes (notably by the University in the mid-20th century) have seen the addition of alpines, climbing plants, shrubs and perennials which thrive in the Hall’s warm micro-climate and dry growing conditions.

In 1983 a new area was added behind the Hazel Walk, which includes a herb and medicinal garden and a white garden. Check the website for opening times.

 

Outdoor Gardening Supplies in Cambridge from Madingley Mulch

If you want to recreate some of the ideas in any of these gardens, then Madingley Mulch is the place to come to. Our range of soil improvers – which we can deliver to Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire as Cambridgeshire – means you may be able to grow some of the plants on show in any of the above gardens, even if your soil and micro-climate is different. These include Denise’s Delight and Tony’s Tonic, products which are exclusive to Madingley Mulch.

You can also check out our online shop here or just call us on 01954 212144.

Image: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Creating a Perfect Garden Rockery with Madingley Mulch

One of the key elements of many gardens is the rockery – particularly if the soil or the climate rules out many more conventional plants and colour schemes.

Madingley Mulch supply rockery stones to customers in Cambridge and the surrounding area. Here, we look at the history of this particular feature, how it can be used to brighten up an otherwise uninspiring outdoor space, and how we can help you create a versatile and attractive addition to your garden.

 

The History of the Rockery

A rockery is also known as a rock or alpine garden. The feature originated in oriental culture, where the focus was on religion and rocks rather than the plants. The rock formations were supposed to attract mythological immortals, who lived in the mountains, down into the garden.

In Europe, rockeries first took the form of alpine gardens, which became more popular in the early Victorian era, as people began to travel and bring non-native plants back with them to the UK such as mosses, lichens, and grasses. These were typically found in alpine regions – hence this particular name. Today, the terms ‘rockery’ and ‘rock garden’ are generally interchangeable, although the latter are more likely to replicate a rock formation found in the mountains.

 

Advantages of Rockeries

Rockeries are good in poorly irrigated soil, and they are also an attractive option if your garden has lots of bumps and slopes. When planning one, you should ensure that the plants you choose are hardy and look good all year round.

Rockeries are also very sustainable and easy to maintain – they won’t need much watering or ongoing maintenance and are a great habitat for wildlife such as butterflies on the plants and bugs in the nooks, crannies and crevices of the rocks.

As the overall idea behind a rockery is fairly simple, there’s plenty of choice in terms of plants and what you want to do with it – for example, you may decide to include water features.

 

Creating a Rockery

When creating your rockery, start by marking out the area with pegs and string where you want your rockery to go. Make sure it’s weed-free before you start planting or placing stones – these unwanted invaders will not only inhibit your own plants’ growth but could destabilise the structure of you rockery over time. You should add a layer of landscape fabric or weed suppressing membrane over the area to protect the rockery from any weeds in future

Next, lay some coarse rubble, broken bricks and pea shingle as the base. Then put the largest rocks, or keystones as they are known, in position. Continue to build up your rockery with smaller rocks, taking care to add topsoil to bed them into position.

When it comes to adding plants, place them in their pots first to have an idea how they will look; only when you are sure should you take them out of their pots and plant them.

Lastly, don’t forget mulch! Gravel may also work, depending on your climate, although you may be better off with a more conventional soil conditioner or compost. We offer bags of gravel in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and the surrounding area, as well as conditioners and compost.

 

Rockery Stones in Cambridge from Madingley Mulch

At Madingley Mulch we stock everything you need to create the perfect rockery in your garden.

For your sub-base (whether it’s of hardcore, rubble or ballast), check out our range of price matched aggregates here – some of our options may be suitable for keystones as well. We also stock weed-suppressing membranes which can also be suitable for patios and other garden projects where weeds need to be kept at bay.

When it comes to your base, check out our range of decorative stones – we stick a wide variety of stone styles, sizes and colours, some of which you may be able to use as a mulch. We also have a range of mulches and soil conditioners and composts as well, ensuring that all your bases are covered.

Remember we can deliver all these to you – for more details check out our deliveries page here and, if you have any questions, you can also call us on 01954 212144.

Top Gardening Trends for 2024

If you want to give your garden a new look over the next 12 months, now is the time to start thinking about planting schemes and landscaping. Here Madingley Mulch, specialists in soil improvers in Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, identify some of the horticultural trends that are likely to prove popular in 2024.

 

Edimentally Speaking

Increasingly, gardeners are looking for plants that not only look good but which they can eat as well. The technical term for this is edimental: a plant that is both edible and ornamental.

Prime examples of edimental plants are herbs such as mint, rosemary, thyme, and oregano, which can all be used to give your meals extra flavour. You could also try drought-tolerant vegetables with plenty of foliage, such as rhubarb, Swiss chard, and asparagus.

 

Popular Pollinators

Surveys have suggested that as many as one in 10 gardeners are looking to increase the number of pollinators in their garden. This means planting plenty of flowers and shrubs that will attract bees, butterflies, beetles, and birds. These wildlife-friendly plants, such as lavender (pictured above), salvia, poppies, and sunflowers, will boost the ecosystem in your garden and increase its biodiversity.

 

Gravel Gardens

These are predicted to be big in 2024 because they are low-maintenance and are ideal if we get prolonged dry spells. Plants grown in gravel gardens will be encouraged to grow deeper roots, resulting in much hardier plants. At Madingley Mulch we supply a range of 10 and 20mm gravels at our Cambridgeshire base, more details of which can be found here.

 

Seasonal Changes

Gardeners will have to adapt to changing weather patterns as even in the last couple of years various climate records have been broken. In different months, it’s either been much hotter, drier, wetter, or colder than we might usually expect.

As a result, this may affect planting times, as well as the choice of plants. For example, do you need something that is drought-tolerant, or can cope with a lot of rain such as we have had in East Anglia recently?

It also means that, as well as potentially having your own compost bins and water butts, you will increasingly need to consult the long-range weather forecasts and be adaptable to changing conditions.

 

A Move Away from Peat

Another thing gardeners will have to adapt to is the loss of peat-based composts. The sale of these will be banned by the end of 2024 as part of the drive to cut our country’s carbon emissions to ‘Net Zero’ by 2050. Whenever peat is extracted from its natural habitat (and used in commercial compost) more carbon is released. To learn more about this, check out our previous blog post here.

So gardeners are having to turn to a range of alternatives including mulches, bark, and wood-chip-based products, along with other soil conditioners and improvers. We stock a wide range of these including Tony’s Tonic and Denise’s Delight, both of which are exclusive to Madingley Mulch.

These and many other soil conditioners and composts that we stock at our base near Cambridge will allow you to adapt to the changing climate. Mulches in particular suppress weeds and retain moisture well, meaning you can grow herbs, drought-tolerant plants, and many other species that wouldn’t normally flourish in your garden.

 

Soil Improvers in Bedfordshire from Madingley Mulch

As well as the soil conditioners and composts, we also have a range of other outdoor gardening supplies to help you stay ‘on-trend’ in the months ahead.

These include fencing panels, decorative stones and pebbles (some of which can also be used as a mulch), new turf, and high-quality tools to carry out all the weeding and planting you are likely to do. Check out the products and pricing in our online shop here.

We can deliver your order directly to your door (minimum order value £50). We now also operate a sliding scale of charges, more details of which you can find on this link. We have regular delivery runs to Newmarket, St Neots, St Ives, Ely, and the surrounding area, as well as to Cambridge itself.

Christmas Trees for Sale from Madingley Mulch

Madingley Mulch will have Christmas trees for sale as usual this year at its Cambridgeshire base.

We will be stocking the traditional Norwegian Spruce variety, and the Nordman Fir, which doesn’t drop its needles. For more information on the differences between the two, follow this link. Heights and prices are pictured below.

If you would like to order one, call us on 01954 212144. If you would like your Christmas tree delivered, then there will be a minimum £5 delivery charge.

Top Tips on Decorating Your Christmas Tree

Madingley Mulch will have Christmas trees for sale at its base on the outskirts of Cambridge this year. Here we look at the traditions behind decorating this festive centrepiece, some practical advice on the best ways to do it – and provide more details of the trees we will be stocking this year.

 

The History of Christmas Tree Decorations

Although the modern Christmas tree has its roots in 16th Century Germany, when it was used as a religious symbol and hung with apples, candles, wafers and cookies, it wasn’t until three centuries later that the festive tradition was popularised thanks to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

A picture in the Illustrated London News of the Royal Couple and their family at Windsor Castle also included a large tree adorned with glass ornaments hailing from Albert’s native Germany. After this, the tradition really caught on in homes across the country.

But what is the best way to decorate your tree now in the 21^st century?

 

Think of the Position

You don’t want the tree to be on a major ‘through route’ so it gets knocked about by people entering or leaving the room, whether it’s in the lounge, kitchen or another part of the house. Also, try to avoid placing it near sources of heat – not just open fires but radiators as well. This will help the tree to survive the Christmas period and hopefully flourish afterwards, if you want to replant it in your garden.

 

Lights First…

You should always sort the tree lights out first – if only to discover if they work or not, and if there are any bulbs missing. The lights will also be one of the major features of the tree, so you don’t want to cram them on last of all.

From an aesthetic point of view, the overall effect is much more striking if the bulbs are positioned reasonably deeply within the tree, so that there is no glare from the lights, and they just peep discreetly through the branches.

 

…Then the ‘Topper’…

Like the lights, the decoration at the top of the tree shouldn’t be left until the very end; if you do, you run the risk of knocking off other decorations when you are putting it in position. A star or an angel is the classic choice, but you can opt for anything which reflects more of your personal taste.

 

…Then the Other Decorations

Again, any tinsel should go on reasonably early in the decorating process, because it’s much longer and bigger than individual ornaments. Try to ensure that all the baubles are evenly distributed on the branches, even if that means some of them are ‘behind’ the tree or not immediately visible.

Generally, it’s better to put the bigger pieces on first, and deeper on the branches so they don’t fall off or bend the branches too much, and then you can use the smaller ones to fill in any gaps. As with the lights, it’s a good idea to stand back occasionally and check you are happy with the tree’s overall appearance.

 

Finish with a Skirt or Collar

You won’t necessarily want your bucket (or whatever you have planted your tree in) to be visible, as it can ruin the overall effect. So once all your ornaments are in place, fit it with a skirt or collar. This need not be shop-bought – it can easily be homemade or adapted from some of your spare fabric, linen or even spare wrapping paper.

 

Christmas Trees for Sale in Cambridge from Madingley Mulch

At Madingley Mulch we will be stocking Nordman Fir and Norwegian Spruce trees this year. The Nordman Fir has glossy foliage and soft needles, which won’t drop all over your carpet. The Norwegian Spruce is the ‘classic’ Christmas tree which has full green foliage and a more structured shape. Both species are available in a variety of heights, from 1.25m to 2metres and above.

You can order your Christmas tree from us by calling 01954 212144. If you want it delivered on its own, then there will be a minimum £5 delivery charge.

Why Granite Chippings are Ideal for Your Garden

Madingley Mulch has just extended its range of granite chippings which are now available from its base on the outskirts of Cambridge. Here we take a look at some of the key advantages this material offers, and why we are your best port of call if you want to use it for a hard landscaping feature in your garden.

 

They are Very Hard

Granite is one of the hardest rocks around, having been formed by volcanic activity. It consists of a mix of minerals, including quartz and feldspar, and because these are mixed together (and not in separate layers like some other rocks) it is intrinsically harder. This means that the chippings won’t weather much wherever you put them, making them the perfect long-term investment.

 

They Can Act as Mulches

Non bio-degradable mulches (that is, those which aren’t made out of organic material such as bark or wood chippings) won’t boost the fertility or structure of the soil. However, using granite does have some benefits.

Firstly, it won’t damage any plants in your flower beds because the chippings simply sit on top of the existing soil. Secondly, it will suppress weeds and conserve moisture in your flower beds, in part thanks to their heavy weight. Lastly, granite chipping will help drain the soil, preventing it from becoming overwatered or puddles developing during heavy rain.

 

They Can be Used as Water Features…

Some natural stones, particularly those containing lime, can alter the pH balance of your pond water which is potentially dangerous to fish. However, this isn’t the case with granite chippings so you can use them in any kind of water feature. And some of them, for example, our 14mm red granite (pictured above) will deepen in colour when wet, making it really stand out.

 

…and They Have Other Uses Too

You don’t need to use them just as mulches or in water features. Granite chippings can also be used as driveways and pathways. They add a striking decorative touch, and are also a good security measure because you will hear the crunch underfoot as someone walks on it.

 

They Can be Bright and Colourful

Granite doesn’t need to all be one colour. As well as our red granite, which is also available in a 20mm size, we have a range of other colours, including green and our greyish-blue 14-16mm Berwyn Green. These can be mixed and matched in any part of your garden, which can create some striking effects.

Bear in mind that the climatic conditions in your garden should influence your choice, particularly if you are using it as a mulch. The Royal Horticultural Society points out that dark-coloured materials will warm the soil in the sun, whereas light-coloured mulch will reflect sunlight and keep roots cooler in strong sunlight.

 

Granite Chippings in Cambridge from Madingley Mulch

As well as granite chippings, we also stock a range of other decorative stone chippings for customers across Hertfordshire, Essex, Suffolk and our home county of Cambridgeshire. These include gravel, flamingo and our special multi-mix. For a full list, follow this link.

You can either order online as we have regular deliveries to Suffolk, Essex, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex as well as closer to home in Cambridgeshire. Alternatively, you can visit us in person at our base on the edge of Cambridge. For more details on our delivery service, and how we calculate the charges, visit our deliveries page.

If you have any questions or need advice, feel free to call us on 01954 212144.

Why 6ft and 3ft Fence Panels are the Most Popular Sizes

Garden fencing can come in all shapes and styles – lap panels, overboards and picket fences to name just a few – and these fencing varieties can be topped off with trellises or supported by gravel boards.

However, there are two sizes which are the most popular – 3ft and 6ft fence panels, both of which we can supply from our base on the edge of Cambridge. Here we explain why these two sizes of fence panels are the ‘go-to’ products for most garden improvement projects.

 

The 6ft High Panel

Six feet roughly equates to 1.8metres in metric terms, and there are a number of reasons why fence panels are often manufactured at this height. One is the UK’s planning laws, which specify that you may need planning permission for anything over 2m tall which is not adjacent to a road or highway.

Something that is 1.8m tall is comfortably under this limit and will also give you the opportunity to add a gravelboard underneath. These can protect the base of the panel from damp soil, will help avoid rotting and dampness, and will prolong the lifespan of your panels.

There’s also the privacy angle – most adults aren’t much taller than 6ft (and certainly children aren’t), so it will protect your garden and property from any prying eyes and give you a bit more security.

At Madingley Mulch, we supply gravelboards and Superior 6ft fence panels. This style of panel is also available in 3ft heights, so you could add a trellis on top. However, to conform to planning regulations, you need to make sure the height of the two combined is still under 2m. Whichever height you opt for, our panels will give you a neutral backdrop for whatever plants you want to put in your beds (or in your lawn) and a clearly defined boundary.

 

The 3ft High Panel

3ft high panels, which we also stock at our base near Cambridge, are very popular for front gardens in particular. Again, there are planning reasons for this height – you aren’t allowed to put up a fence which is more than a metre high if it’s adjacent to a highway or road used by vehicles.

Lower fence panel heights are ideal for marking out where a property starts and ends for demarcation purposes, and don’t present much of an obstacle if you want to climb over them. You may also want to see out of your front window to see what’s going on in the street or keep an eye out for any deliveries.

Often, 3ft high panels in front gardens are picket fences, as these are more picturesque than a lap or overboard panel and look more ‘open’ and attractive from the street. At Madingley Mulch, we supply 1.8m x 0.9m picket fence panels (the 0.9m roughly equates to 3ft) – for more details follow this link.

 

Whose Responsibility Are They?

If the new fence is going up between you and your neighbour’s home, and you are worried about the legal position, then the best course of action is to check your property deeds. If there’s a ‘T’ on one side of the boundary and it’s on your side, then you can put a new fence up – but equally you are responsible for maintaining it too. If the T is on the other side, then it’s down to your neighbour.

If there’s an H on the deeds – effectively a T with an extra stroke – then it’s a shared responsibility; so talk to your neighbour about it if you haven’t already.

 

Other Fencing Products from Madingley Mulch

As well as picket and lap panel fencing, trellises and overboards, we also supply a number of other accessories if you are planning a fencing project. If you visit our online shop you can see we stock fence posts and fence post mix so you can be sure that your panels are securely anchored. You can either buy these in person from our site on the outskirts of Cambridge or you can have them delivered to your home address, provided the order comes to at least £50.

We recently changed our delivery policy to reflect our increased costs – it’s now £2 per-delivery unit if you live between 0-5 miles from our base, up to £16 if you live between 30-40 miles away. More details are available on our delivery page.