Can I add fertiliser AND bark mulch on top?

Hi everyone

I’m new to gardening but I’m willing to put the hard work in. I’ve already planted about 70 plants in my sloping bed (all well established shrubs and perennials).

I now need to add fertiliser. Am I able to add fertiliser first and then add bark mulch on top? And what thickness should they both be?

The soil is fairl acidic and is clay (I think). I’ve also just laid a soaker hose down so I assume this will still work under a layer of fertiliser and bark mulch?

Thanks in advance!!

 

Hiya MattW ...welcome
Your plants? Are they suitable for acid soil? You "think" its fairly acid! Do a PH test...quick and cheap but very important.
Fertiliser should be thinly scattered. Not too much. I think too many people overdo the fertiliser bit in the belief they will have extra super plants; they don't
Mulch? Only on moist soil and then at least 3" thick....7.5 cm. It depends on what mulch you are using too....if you are growing acid lovers then mushroom compost is fatal.
Yes, fertilisers will "work""under a mulch; in fact they are better under a mulch. Fertilisers scattered on the surface are often wasted as some of the nutrient levels will evaporate.
So, what plants are you growing there MattW?

 

Thanks. A bet a ph test then.

Not entirely sure what is there when we moved in but I’ve added (as mostly everything has died) hydrangeas, lavender (English and French), delphiniums, lots of roses, Fox gloves, scabiosas, midwinter fire, blueberry plants, choysa sun dance, and a couple of others which I can’t remember. I’ll take some pictures tonight if I remember and post them.

 

Oh and a couple of acers

 

What colour are the hydrangeas? Bet you say "white"

 

Lol. ‘Pink’, white’ and ‘blue’ actually!

 

Oops! Pink or red signifies alkaline soil; blue usually reflects an acid soil
However, looking at your garden, I would guess its neutral. So, get ph test done first

 

Never knew that! I only planted them 2 weeks ago though so how fast do they change?

 

Ah well, that explains it. Very important to do PH test. You wont have blue and pink hydrangeas there in a year or two...in acid soil pink will turn purplish; in alkaline soil blue will colour towards red/purple,