As we approach the end of summer, investing time and/or money in a generous layer of mulch around plants will help retain some of that summer warmth in the soil, prolonging autumn root growth.

Added to the surface of a permeable membrane to suppress weed growth, bark or cocoa shell mulches really enhance the look of a border.

Technically, a mulch is simply a material which is applied to the surface of the soil.

Mulches are decorative, such as bark, cocoa shell or gravel, or purely functional, such as the black plastic sometimes used in vegetable plots, for example.

Mulching with well-rotted garden compost or leaf mould is an organic way of returning nutrients to the soil.

Make sure that no perennial weeds were added to the compost, or their seeds may still be present and will be returned to the soil.

A layer of about 7.5 cm of bark or cocoa shells is needed in order to be of real benefit - take care, though, to lower the level around the stems of mature plants.

Any depth of well-rotted garden compost is beneficial, and in time the material will disappear, as worms take it down into the soil below.

Make sure that all perennial weeds are removed before applying a mulch - remaining weeds will simply benefit from the added warmth, and soon break through to the surface.

It may be necessary to re-apply loose mulches every other year, since some is lost by wind, settling, worm activity, other animals digging and so on.

Large chunks of bark chippings, as opposed to composted bark, blow around less - although they are more expensive to buy in bags, they last longer.

If any of you have any queries regarding the application of mulches, why not e-mail us - who knows, we may even feature your question and answer in a week or so!

Happy gardening