The benefits of tea tree mulch, from the farm that grows it
We're the family that grows this mulch, and we've been planting, cutting and delivering it from our farm at Teven, near Ballina, for more than 20 years. It's the best mulch we know for natives, garden beds, fruit trees and paths, and it stays put when the weather turns. For a price, call 0402 294 776, any day 8:30am to 5pm.
Tea tree mulch knits into a mat that stays put in wind and heavy rain, blocks the light weed seeds need, and holds moisture in the soil. Laid 75mm deep it lasts 12 to 18 months, and its low nutrient, near neutral nature is exactly what natives love.
What does tea tree mulch do for your garden?
Once the fine leaf and twig get wet, they knit into a mat that won't blow off in a southerly or wash down a slope. That unbroken layer blocks the light weed seeds need, holds moisture in the soil and slowly breaks down into rich topsoil. And because it's low in nutrients with a near neutral pH, natives like banksias and grevilleas thrive under it.
Where tea tree mulch works best
It's one species off one plantation, so there's no weed seed, dye or treated timber in it, and it suits:
- Native beds, ornamental gardens and fruit trees
- Paths, slopes and windy spots where cane won't stay
- In bushfire zones, run gravel nearest the house and mulch further out
- Everywhere except the veggie bed, where sugar cane feeds hungry annuals faster
How to lay it so it works
Laying it right is most of the job:
- Soak the soil first, spread the mulch 75mm deep, then water it in
- Keep a clear gap around stems and trunks to stop rot
- Feed first if you're planting, then mulch over the top, and never dig it in
- Rake it over once a year to break any crust
One cubic metre covers 13.3 square metres at 75mm deep, which is about 10 barrow loads.
Does tea tree mulch repel snakes, termites or sandflies?
Straight answer: no mulch keeps snakes away or repels sandflies, whatever the label says. Termites are a longer story, our termites guide covers it, but the real protection is keeping any mulch off your walls. And it won't kill weeds that are already up, it stops the new ones coming through. Happy to talk it through, call 0402 294 776 for a price.
Related questions
How long does tea tree mulch last?
12 to 18 months at 75mm deep before it needs a top up. The Northern Rivers is warm and wet, so everything breaks down faster here, but it still outlasts sugar cane several times over.
Is tea tree mulch safe for a veggie garden?
Yes, it's safe around edibles. Fast leafy annuals prefer quick feeding though, so use sugar cane in the veggie bed and tea tree on paths, perennial edibles and everywhere else.
How much does one cubic metre of tea tree mulch cover?
One cubic metre covers 13.3 square metres at 75mm deep, or about 10 barrow loads. Multiply length by width by depth in metres, and add a little extra because mulch settles.
How much does tea tree mulch cost?
Call for a price on 0402 294 776, any day, 8:30am to 5pm. It depends on how much you need and how far you are from the farm at Teven.
