Spring is finally here, which means it's time to wake up your garden after the winter, tackle tired borders and prepare paths and beds before the growing season really gets going.
At Silverton Builders Merchants, we’re helping you to choose the right landscaping and gardening materials for healthier planting, tidier borders and easier upkeep.
Read on to find out where bark, topsoil, shingle, mulch and manure all play their part in your garden.
The benefits of garden mulch and manure
Garden mulch helps to retain moisture, suppress weeds, protect roots and reduce your ongoing maintenance chores. Think of it as an organic, soil-enriching material, not simply a surface finisher.
Mulch and manure are both great for growing, but there is a slight distinction to keep in mind:
The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) recommends mid-to-late spring for laying down your mulch and manure.
Laying the groundwork: Topsoil vs garden compost
Now, let’s look at what’s underneath.
Topsoil is great for building up the levels in your garden, including creating new beds, but it can also improve your ground ready for planting or turf.
Garden compost, on the other hand, is better for adding more fertility to your soil, along with texture and moisture retention.
Low-maintenance aesthetics with garden bark
You’re all set with your soil, but how do you keep that space looking beautiful without the backache from hours and hours of maintenance? This is where garden bark is ideal, bringing you:
- Tidier-looking borders
- Reduced weed growth
- Better moisture retention
- A more natural finish
This works well around shrubs, beds and pathways, and many people prefer it to bare earth. We have two options, depending on how you use your garden:
- Check out our play bark if you need a softer material for children’s play areas
- Check out our decorative bark for a natural-looking cover over larger areas
Finishing touches: Shingles and decorative aggregates
Looking for a finishing touch this spring that adds kerb appeal and some much-needed texture? Decorative aggregates are the perfect way to keep some structure in gardens of any size.
Our range of decorative aggregates includes great chippings and shingles, including the pristine polar ice chippings and the mixed-colour flamingo chippings. All you have to do is tip them out and spread them as a tidy top layer wherever you need it, whether you’re marking an edge or covering a whole section of the garden.
Buying in bulk: Bagged aggregates and soil delivery
We all love convenience, but cost-efficiency is often king when it comes to garden care and spring projects. That’s why we offer bagged aggregates and soil delivery across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and the wider East Anglia region. From 20kg bags to whopping 850kg loads, you can get everything you need delivered with ease.
Choosing to buy in bulk is ideal if:
- You want to save the hassle of repeating your order
- You want to cover large borders and long paths or carry out full refreshes
- You don’t want to make multiple trips with materials in your car
When a few bags just aren’t enough, get the right quantity and avoid under-ordering with our delivery of topsoil, mulch, manure, bark and decorative aggregates.
Order your spring garden preparation essentials online with us today and get free local delivery when you spend £20 or more in a single order. Alternatively, for further help and advice, get in touch with our customer services team or visit our branches.
