Using Wool Mulch Mats Around Trees and Garden Plants

Using Wool Mulch Mats Around Trees and Garden Plants

Wool mulch mats are not only for pots. Laid on the soil around young trees, shrubs and vegetables, a mat keeps weeds down, helps hold moisture in and breaks down naturally after one to two growing seasons. Here is how to use them in the garden.

Where wool mats work in the garden

  • Young trees and fruit trees: a mat around the base keeps grass and weeds from competing for water while the tree establishes.
  • Shrubs and new plantings: one mat per plant gives each one a clear, moist root zone.
  • Vegetables: mats around individual plants such as tomatoes, courgettes and peppers keep the soil surface clear and reduce watering.
  • Raised beds and planter boxes: mats cover the soil around each plant and reduce weeding.

Choosing the right size

Use the largest mat that fits the space around the plant. A bigger mat gives a wider weed-free zone and covers more of the root area.

  • 24 inch (600 mm): young trees, larger shrubs and big planters
  • 18 inch (450 mm): shrubs and larger vegetables
  • 14 inch (360 mm): perennials and medium vegetables
  • 10 inch (250 mm): small plants, herbs and seedlings

How to lay a mat around a tree or plant

  1. Clear the area. Remove grass and weeds, including roots, from the area the mat will cover.
  2. Water well. Soak the soil before you lay the mat.
  3. Fit the mat. Open the pre-cut slit and slide the mat around the trunk or stem.
  4. Leave a small gap at the trunk. Do not pack the wool tightly against the bark or stem.
  5. Press it flat and secure it. Make sure the edges sit on the soil. In windy or open spots, use pins to hold the mat down.
  6. Water through it. Water and rain pass through the wool to the soil.

How long does it last?

Depending on climate and watering, a wool mulch mat lasts one to two growing seasons before it has fully broken down. Replace it when it thins out, or leave the remains to break down into the soil.

Why wool rather than plastic weed mat?

Plastic sheet and woven landscape fabric do not break down, so they have to be lifted and thrown away eventually. A wool mat contains no plastic and lets water and air through, so the soil under it stays healthy. For a fuller comparison, see which weed mat to use.

OAKENZ Wool Mulch Mats are 100% natural wool, made in New Zealand, 7 mm thick, and come in four square sizes with a pre-cut slit.

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