With the heatwave leaving many gardens dry, wool mulch is a sustainable material worth adding to your gardening toolkit. Made from sheep’s wool, this natural material can help retain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds and support healthier plant growth – without relying on synthetic products.
Below, we explain the benefits of using wool mulch in your garden and how to give it a try.
Why wool works in the garden
This familiar, fluffy material is naturally absorbent, making it particularly useful for improving water retention in soil.
‘Wool is a breathable material which absorbs water and then releases it slowly into the soil, helping soil recover from drought stress,’ explains Chris McIlroy, lawn expert at The Grass People. ‘The keratin content in wool can hold significant amounts of water, meaning it acts like a slow-release sponge rather than a dense mat.’
It is a natural insulator, helping protect plant roots from colder temperatures and sudden weather changes. ‘Over time, wool naturally breaks down and releases nutrients including nitrogen and potassium back into the soil, acting as a natural, slow-release fertiliser,’ says Haldi Kranich-Wood, wool specialist at British Wool.
Its thickness also has other benefits. ‘It stops sunlight from reaching weed seeds in the soil, so they are unable to germinate,’ adds Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture.
Plus, its coarse texture can even help deter slugs and snails naturally – which is always a bonus.
How to use wool in your garden
It’s important not to use just any wool you have lying around at home. Wool blended with synthetics, dyed with chemical treatments, or containing moth-proofing agents will release unwanted ingredients into the soil.
‘Ordinary wool can be used, but it must be clean, untreated and broken up,’ Chris explains. ‘You can also mix specially-designed wool pellets into the soil.’
Simply apply a layer around plants as mulch. ‘This can be especially useful in pots, hanging baskets, and raised beds, where soil can dry out surprisingly quickly during warmer weather,’ says Haldi.
Wool breaks down slowly, releasing nutrients into the soil. As it is fully biodegradable, it can also be added to compost heaps, helping reduce waste while improving soil health.
‘More people are rediscovering wool because it’s such a versatile natural material. We often think of it in clothing or interiors, but it has so many uses beyond that – particularly for people looking to garden in a more sustainable and natural way,’ Haldi adds.
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