Mulch is one of the most useful and underrated products in any garden. Whether you're a weekend gardener topping up your beds or a landscaper finishing a large project, the right mulch can save you time, water, and effort — all while making your garden look great.
Here's everything you need to know about mulch: what it is, which types suit which jobs, how to apply it, and when to get it down.
What is mulch?
Mulch is a layer of material spread over the surface of your soil to protect and improve it. It acts like a blanket for your garden — keeping the soil below cooler in summer, warmer in winter, and far less likely to dry out between watering.
Mulch can be made from organic materials that break down over time (like pine bark, pea straw, and wood chips) or from inorganic materials that don't decompose (like pebbles, gravel, and decorative aggregates). Both have their place depending on the job.
Organic vs inorganic mulch
Organic mulch
Organic mulches are made from natural plant-based materials. As they break down, they feed the soil with nutrients and organic matter — which is great for long-term soil health.
Common organic mulch types include:
Pine bark mulch (10mm and 20mm): A popular all-rounder for garden beds. Breaks down slowly, suppresses weeds well, and looks tidy. Available in 10mm or 20mm grades — finer grades suit smaller garden beds, coarser grades suit larger areas and native plantings.
Pea straw mulch: High in nitrogen, which makes it ideal for veggie gardens, roses, and fruit trees. Breaks down relatively quickly, so expect to top it up at least once a year.
Eucey Mulch: A dark, natural-looking mulch produced by grinding hard greens (tree trunks, branches, limbs, and stumps) into a coarse, fibrous texture. Particle size ranges from approximately 10mm to 150mm. Despite the name, Eucey Mulch is not necessarily made from eucalyptus trees. It's a great choice for garden beds where you want a natural, organic appearance with good coverage. Please note availability may vary, so check with your local store before purchasing.
Watersaver mulch: Specifically designed to hold moisture in the soil, making it a smart pick for Melbourne and Geelong gardens that face dry summers.
Tree mulch: A coarser, cost-effective option often used for pathways, around trees, and on large garden areas where aesthetics are less of a priority.
Sugarcane mulch: Made from dried sugarcane leaves and tops, sugarcane mulch breaks down over the growing season, adding nutrients back into the soil as it decomposes. It's lightweight, easy to handle, and a great choice for veggie gardens, flower beds, and around fruit trees. Each bale covers 7-14 square metres depending on the depth applied. It does break down faster than bark-based mulches, so expect to top it up at the end of the season.
Blackwood and redwood mulch: Decorative organic mulches with a distinctive appearance. The dark and red tones work well in landscaped garden beds where appearance matters.
One thing to keep in mind: bark and wood-based mulches can tie up nitrogen in the soil as they break down. If you're applying these to a garden bed, it's worth sprinkling a handful of blood and bone over the soil first to compensate.
Inorganic mulch
Inorganic mulches don't break down, so they won't add nutrients to your soil — but they are long-lasting, low-maintenance, and ideal for decorative purposes.
Common inorganic mulch options include:
Pebbles and decorative aggregates: Available in a wide range of sizes and colours. Good for pathways, around feature plants, or in garden beds where you want a clean, permanent finish.
Tuscan toppings and Coldstream toppings: Decorative crushed rock options that give garden beds and paths a distinct earthy, warm appearance.
Scoria: A lightweight volcanic rock with a reddish colour. It drains well and is popular around native and drought-tolerant plants.
The downside of inorganic mulches is that dust and debris can build up in the gaps over time, creating spots where weed seeds can take hold. They're also very difficult to remove if you want to change your garden layout later.
Benefits of mulching your garden
Mulching is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your garden. Here's what it actually does:
Retains moisture: Mulch significantly reduces evaporation from the soil surface — which means less watering, especially through Melbourne and Geelong summers. A well-mulched garden can hold far more moisture than bare soil.
Suppresses weeds: A 50-75mm layer of mulch blocks light from reaching the soil, which stops most weed seeds from germinating. Any weeds that do push through are much easier to pull out.
Regulates soil temperature: Mulch insulates the soil — keeping it cooler in summer heat and protecting roots from cold snaps in winter.
Improves soil health (organic types): As organic mulches break down, they add organic matter to the soil. This feeds beneficial soil microbes, improves structure, and over time turns poor soil into something plants thrive in.
Reduces erosion: Mulch cushions the soil surface from rain impact and runoff, particularly useful on slopes or in areas that cop heavy rainfall.
Finishes a garden: A fresh layer of mulch makes a garden look clean and well-maintained — it's the landscaping equivalent of a fresh coat of paint.
When to apply mulch
There is no single right time to mulch, but three moments make a big difference:
- Before summer: Applying mulch in late spring locks moisture into the soil ahead of the hottest months. This is the most impactful time of year to get mulch down.
- Before rain: If rain is forecast, mulch the day before. The mulch helps water soak in rather than run off, and the moisture gets locked in below.
- After planting: Applying mulch after you've finished planting adds a neat finish and protects new root systems straight away.
For most organic mulches, plan to top up once a year. Inorganic mulches like pebbles only need occasional topping up every few years.
How to apply mulch correctly
Getting the most out of mulch comes down to a few simple steps:
- Clear the area first. Remove existing weeds — either by hand or with a herbicide — before you lay mulch down. Mulching over weeds just gives them a head start.
- Consider a weed barrier. For garden beds prone to weeds, lay down a layer of weedmat, newspaper, or cardboard before mulching. This adds an extra line of defence. Daisy's stocks weedmat in-store and online.
- Choose the right mulch. Organic for garden beds and veggie patches; inorganic for pathways, decorative areas, and low-maintenance spots.
- Apply to the right depth. Aim for 50-75mm for most organic mulches. This is deep enough to suppress weeds and retain moisture without suffocating plant roots.
- Keep it away from stems and trunks. Don't pile mulch up against the base of plants or trees. Leave a gap of at least 50-100mm around the stem to prevent rot and discourage pests.
- Water in. Give the area a good drink after mulching to help settle the layer and start pushing moisture down to the roots.
Use our Volume Calculator to work out exactly how much you need for your area. Enter your length, width, and depth and we'll tell you the cubic metres required.
As a rough guide: 1 cubic metre of mulch covers approximately 10-13 square metres at a 75-100mm depth.
Buy mulch in Melbourne and Geelong
Daisy's Garden Supplies stocks a full range of organic and inorganic mulches across our nine locations in Melbourne and Geelong — including Ashwood, Ringwood, Thomastown, Laverton, Taylors Lakes, Carrum Downs, Pakenham, Geelong (Moolap), and Torquay.
Buy online in bags or bulk cubic metres, or visit your nearest store to see the product in person. Bulk mulch is available from 0.25m³ in-store or 0.5m³ online, with delivery across Greater Melbourne, Geelong, and Torquay.
Shop mulch online or find your nearest store.
Please note: while every effort is made to ensure consistency, there may be variation in product colour and texture from what is displayed online. Our range is naturally sourced or recycled, so variation can occur. It's best to visit your nearest store to get the best impression before ordering in bulk.