Not Sure Which Mulch You Should Be Using? Take Our Clever Quiz

I'm married to a professional gardener, and the number one tool in his arsenal is pure and simple mulch. At least, it should be pure and simple. Too many people, however, use it incorrectly or overlook it entirely.

There are so many benefits to using mulch. In fact, if you choose correctly, it can conserve moisture, suppress weeds, moderates soil temperature, and even improves soil structure over time. Choose incorrectly, though, and you're prone to falling foul of at least one major mulching mistake. At least.

And that's where things get complicated, as there are so many different mulches available, and they all promise different things. So, are wood chips, straw, compost, bark, or something else entirely best for your garden?

Before you reach for the bag on the shelf, remember that mulch isn’t one-size-fits-all. The needs of a flower bed are very different from those of a vegetable patch or a newly planted tree. Some mulches decompose quickly and enrich the soil, while others last years, protecting roots without breaking down. And for those focused on sustainability, some materials (like shredded leaves or straw) are infinitely more eco-friendly than synthetic options.

To help you out, we've designed an easy quiz so that you can narrow down the right mulch for your garden. Answer the questions below, and by the end, you’ll know whether your garden calls for organic, inorganic, fast-decomposing, or long-lasting mulch, helping your plants thrive all year round...

So, how did you get on? If you whizzed through this (and loved it), then you might like to find out your houseplant soulmate test or figure out which flower seed is right for you this spring – and have a bash at our extra special hydrangea personality quiz, too. There's even a quiz to help you determine which vegetable you should grow in your garden this year.

Have fun, and be sure to look out for more quizzes and puzzles coming very soon...