Melcourt Farmyard: How to use this peat free vegan friendly mulch

Good soil is the starting point for healthy plants. Melcourt SylvaGrow Farmyard is a peat-free, vegan-friendly soil improver that adds valuable organic matter to borders, vegetable plots and raised beds. It works much like traditional farmyard manure, but is made from plant-based anaerobic digestate, a by-product of renewable energy production, with added green compost.

Adding organic matter helps improve soil structure and makes the ground easier to work. Farmyard also increases the soil’s ability to hold moisture and provides a slow-release source of nutrients to support plant growth.

Used as a surface mulch, it helps conserve moisture and suppress weeds while gradually feeding the soil. Earthworms and other soil organisms will work the material into the ground over time, making it useful for no-dig gardening as well as established borders.

How to use it as a mulch

1. Remove weeds from the area you want to cover.
2. Spread a layer 5–8cm deep over the soil surface, around established plants or across bare ground.
3. Keep the material clear of plant stems, perennial crowns and tree trunks.
4. Leave it on the surface rather than digging it in.

How to use it as a soil improver

1. Spread a layer 5–8cm deep over the area.
2. Work it into the top 15–20cm of soil.
3. Repeat seasonally where needed to build organic matter and gradually improve soil structure.

This is useful when preparing borders, vegetable plots and raised beds for planting.

How to use it when planting

1. Water the plant thoroughly before planting.
2. Mix one part Farmyard with four parts of the soil removed from the planting hole.
3. Use this mixture to backfill around the roots, then water in well.

This method is suitable for roses, shrubs, trees, herbaceous perennials and bedding plants.

A note on acid-loving plants

Farmyard is not suitable for lime-hating plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas and heathers. Choose a suitable ericaceous product for these instead.

Frequently asked questions

Has this mulch come from a farmyard?

No. Despite its name, SylvaGrow Farmyard is a plant-based alternative to traditional farmyard manure. It is made from anaerobic digestate, a by-product of renewable energy production, with added green compost. It provides organic matter and nutrients to improve the soil, without animal manure.

How can I use it?

You can use Melcourt Farmyard:

• As a mulch
• As a soil improver
• When planting

Do you sell any other Melcourt products?

Yes, we stock a number of Melcourt peat free growing media. See here:  https://hardysplants.co.uk/collections/melcourt-growing-media  

How do I get Melcourt Farmyard or other Melcourt products?

You can collect it from the nursery. Place a pick up in store order online or pop in to see what we have. Unfortunately it's too heavy to post.