The biggest benefit of strulch is its deterrent against slugs and snails. I have found its effect last for 2 - 3 years. Year 4 the slugs slowly start creeping back. I love it. 🐌

Hi Tony. I used a couple of bags of this stuff early this season. Firstly I used it to cover my potatoes in 30l pots. A friend mentioned that they had issues using Strulch with potatoes as they reckoned the weed suppressing properties stumped the growth of the potatoes as they grew through the layer. I contacted the suppliers and they responded with the following response: 'Yes, Strulch is suitable for use as a mulch around newly planted seed potatoes. It can help to suppress weeds and conserve moisture in the soil, while also providing a slow-release source of nutrients to support healthy growth. However, it's important to note that Strulch should be applied in a thin layer, no more than 3-4cm deep, to allow air and moisture to penetrate the soil.' My potatoes were very successful and the Strulch did a great job with retaining moisture as well as deterring slugs etc. I also used it around many beds and I was a bit worried it would all be blown away in the wind but it did not at all and is still in place 8 months later and still no sight of any weeds other than those which have snuck out around the edges. They recommend gloves as the Strulch gives you tiny 'paper' cuts so I'm guessing that's why it's so good against the slugs. It does mat together very well so I would strongly advise you stick to the 3-4cm as advised my the supplier. They are AK Kin and their email address is enquiries@akkin.co.uk They replied to my query straight away and were very helpful. Hope this is useful :)

I tried it this year (again, two bags from Amazon!) and wasn't convinced. Even when applied thinly, it tended to mat together on the surface of the soil to the point that water would just run off rather than permeating. Maybe I compressed it? For me, a more effective mulch was the composted horse manure from The Compost Centre (as used, I believe, by both Jessie and JB).

Merry Christmas to you and yours. I'm so glad your health and cheerful self are doing better. Happy NEW YEAR.

All the best for you and your family, and followers for Christmas and a better new year.

I love that stuff, and used it a lot in my home garden where I have a couple of bed. Use it a bit at allotment but cost starts to build up when covering for size of allotment. Use it in my polytunnel mostly and then thinly spread the rest around new plants to deter slug. Also love the smell aha

I have started using strulch on my raised beds and some of my pots of spring bulbs. So far so good, I also love the way it looks and smells.

I tried the leaves method as we have huge sycamore trees. I didn't stop to think that sycamores will prolifically grow anywhere, and I ended up with hundreds of small sycamores I had to pull up! I'd also put loads of leaves in the composter that have now all sprouted, I am leaving them and hoping they eventually compost down. Love the strulch, it takes a bit of practice to get it right. My plants have gone bonkers since I put the strulch down.

We use sugar cane mulch here which has a similar structure but a bit finer. It’s fabulous but the only drawback I’ve found is if the layer is too thick it sort of creates a mat that’s hard for water to soak through. Totally fine if you have drip irrigation underneath but unless it rains a lot the soil often stays dry underneath. You could probably use some to cover another bed or two and there would still be a nice thick layer left 🙂

I use it on my allotment around plants that get attacked by slugs and I love it!

Hi Tony. I used this earlier in the year to top off some flower beds. I was disappointed with the results - the flowers were sickly. Could be coincidence though. I am trying again with it to mulch some beds over winter. So the jury is out on this for me. I do love the smell of it though. 😀

I use this for 2 years on the small raised bed where the lettuce ect is planted. Does help with slugs

Love this stuff, Tony. Been using it for the past 2 years along with leaves. Expensive but lasts a decent amount of time

Suttons often have a sale and I bought my Strulch then at Bogof!!I love it - I put it around my plants too to keep moisture in and weeds down!

Strulch would be good for around a flower bed or something but extortionate for the size we are growing on.

Hi Tony , good to see you in action again, though at the moment I’m not very motivated. I bought the stretch last year and put it round my strawberries and on top of my potato buckets , I shall buy some more it seemed very good at stopping weeds and slugs a bit though not totally but that was probably due to the very wet conditions during the summer at least here in Cornwall . I didn’t put as much on as you hav3 though I wanted to make it go as far as I could for economic reasons😂❤️

I have used this and keep going back for more. Its good stuff

I do like Strulch, I use it around strawberries and dahlias, I would say it definitely deters slugs . For spuds I use grass clippings..

This is great Tony. I've done the cardboard trick on 3 of my beds so keen to try something else. Strulch it is 😊

Looks like good stuff but too expensive for me! Happy Christmas my friend and continue to get stronger for 2024 x.

You should try a soil enricher called Blooming Amazing. I put it on my polytunnel plots in communal tunnel and everyone kept asking what it was as my plants looked amazing whilst theirs were getting ravaged

I find Strulch absolutely brilliant. Have used it now for the last two years. it is perfect for putting around strawberry plants and climbing beans plants to keep moisture in to deter slugs and snails.

Love strulch, I have had it on my strawberry beds for years, and in the poly i mound it up around the edges to stop slugs getting into my beds for over wintering lettuce etc :) Its not 100% effective, but it is 99% effective, strong willed weeds will get through but then they will get through everywhere....... The smell is also divine lol

Here in Australia, we also have the option of using Sugar Cane Mulch. It comes in an 80L pack and covers up to 26m2 (depending on thickness applied) It cost around $18 (9 pound) a pack I'm keen to see the results of your comparisons.

Hi Tony, real person and big fan of strulch. It is expensive but little goes a long way. Use it on beds, protection for my rhubarb crowns and tops off my potato buckets. For beds I put a good layer of compost down then strulch on top, but a thinner layer than you did 😁

Whats the difference between it and wheat straw? I went to the grown naturally page and they stock it too. I might get me a couple bags and trial it but I'll watch yours first.

i got of that stuff too tony its great but be carefull putting it near any seedlings as it affected some of mine i think its the herbicide but definately great for the beds and around plants that like it like my strawberrys loved it lettuce not so much x

Hi Tony , I'm using this product every year, and I can highly recommend it. Used it as much to the potatoes in the buckets ,as a mulch under the courgette plants ect., and every time is great result. About the price? In our local garden center it is £10.99 per bag.

Ive used strultch for a few years now and its good stuff. Its the minerals in the straw that deter the slugs. That part of it only lasts one season but its a decent weed suppressant and good organic matter for your beds 😊

Bought it last summer to stop the weeds around my strawberries. I hsd weeded fairly well before putting it on but it did not stop them. It almost acted like weedfood as it decomposed slowly. Strawberry patch as weedy as before...

I use strulch every year I love it it’s brilliant!!! X

I've used Strulch for 3 years and love it ❤

That’s interesting stuff Tony , I’ve not seen it here yet ( Ireland ) , I use a layer of cow manure , layer of leaves over that and then a layer of seaweed over that , soil is beautiful come spring , hard work gathering it all throughout the winter but what else is there to do 😂

I tried strultch last year, and wasn't impressed. Coming from Scotland, I think it's expensive too lol! I put it round my raspberries, and while it did deter the slugs and snails, I found it no use for weeds. I live in the Midlands, and found the weeds still came up through it in my allotment. However, it may be I didn't put enough down (used nearly one bag in a 9" x 1" bed), or that I had loads of nettles there, and the roots are difficult to get rid of.

I've used Strulch for two years, I find it great.

I've used strulch for the last couple of years and it's brilliant, plants can struggle to get through it a bit sometimes, but really does keep the weeds down

From what I’ve seen the slugs etc still get your crop

@tony just bought this to try, I was thinking about adding it to my parsnip be, do you think it will be any good or not for parsnips? Or shall I stick to my leek and brassica beds with this stuff?

Very interesting product.

I tried it years ago to try and protect my hostas from the slugs & snails which absolutely did not work. I was then fool enough to try sheep wool pellets for the same thing with the same results. I can only assume that soil type plays a role in the results. I wouldn't recommend it for gardening on clay as a deterrent.

Oooh, might give this ago. Slugs have been a bane this year.

It looks good but from reviews I have read hope you have not put it on too thick, recommended 3 to 4 cms which is equivalent to 1.5 inches, at the recommended thickness then probably value for money any thicker ?

I use Bloomin' Amazing which is a similar product and is a bit cheaper than Strulch in case any garden centres near you sell it. I know Dobbies and British Garden Centres stock it.

Hi Tony, I use Biozorb horse bedding, which is actually chopped, dust extracted rapeseed straw. Something like 100ltrs for £8ish. Cheaper than Strulch and I got the idea from Tony O'Neil.

I have just used 2 bags of this on my allotment after hearing from my grandad that he had used it for my whole life pretty much lol.

Try farm supply shops for the chopped rape straw Tony. Thats where I get mine for the spuds. Maybe ⅓ the price of online retailers for bales twice the size. Bound to be a farm or equine supply place thats not crazy far away😅. I pay €10 for a bale probably 250-300L

My mum uses it for her hostas, works a treat. It doesn't need to be that thick though, one bag would've done both beds.

I use it all the time

Tony I've been using this for 4 years , £20 for 2 bags , gone up this year tho , brilliant, hate it slugs

Hi Tony, I've just gone and purchased a bag of Strulch, on Amazon, I don't want slugs eating my food that I'm growing for my family. Trying to cut down on the cost of the shopping bill.

The storm didnt do much damage to yor allotment.

i use all my old mail shredded down news paper card

You should have used it once you had done your planting Tony

I used strulch this summer as I heard it deterred slugs-didn't work for me,I'm afraid!

Tony, any chance you could do some measurements of the chilli grow? I can’t find any online to check if it’ll fit on my windowsill. Thanks 🙏

Sounds brilliant, but why don't they tell us what's in it?

ive used it for 2yrs its a good product but its does attract birds who like it

Mojo back Tony 😊 ❤❤

Rip off pricing! This is simply chopped up straw plus a little fertilizer added! One bale of straw costs around £4 and typically weighs between 40 and 60lbs. Add a few handfuls of blood fish and bone per bale and as they say, in the US "Do the math"!!

You are costing me too much money, Tony. Just bought 2 bags and used one to mulch my new 27 plant strawberry bed.

You bought them at amazon. It's apparently out of stock now 😢

👍

What is it actually

🌿💐💚

I bought it by accident....I was looking for actual straw for me strawberries...cos it wasnt straw I put it on my flower border..the plants LOVED IT 🥰 I mixed it in with chicken poop

It burned the leaves of my young plants so I am not a fan.

Is possible to buy barley straw by the bale from a local farm. Which would do the same job.

I’ve tried strulch and to be honest, I wouldn’t buy it again. The product itself is good, I like the small particle size. My problem is it doesn’t go far, and it’s way too expensive. My beds are 2m x 1.2m and for a reasonable coverage I only get 2 beds. At the end of the day, it’s just straw. I now buy a big bag of straw from pets at home. It’s not as well cut down but it’s more than half the price for more than double the amount.

I'm a cheapskate. Can't I buy less expensive mulch, a bale of straw, and mix it up cheaper?

Amazon reviews 😂😂

Waste of money do not buy definitely doesn't stop the slugs