Last Modified: April 1, 2024

Strulch

Great for mulching sloped areas

Close up of strulch

By Ben Parrot - Landscape Gardener & Amateur Geologist

Classification:

Wood decorative material and landscaping aggregate

Geological name(s):

Triticum aestivum

Other Name(s):

Organic straw mulch, organic mulch, garden straw, straw for mulch, mulch with straw

Overview

Welcome to the only encyclopaedia for decorative aggregates and landscaping materials. Strulch, also known as organic straw mulch, is a premium and compostable material that can last up to two years, made in the UK by a company called Strulch. It is produced from wheat straw, by a process that in NOT composting, involving the addition of some minerals. It usually has a chocolate brown to straw colour that creates a beautiful contrast against the plants and shrubs in your garden, highlighting their greenery and giving vegetable garden beds and borders a neat and natural look. This aggregate is best suited for landscaping projects where weed and pest control, plus quality, are key factors.

This encyclopaedia entry provides a thorough overview of Strulch, a landscaping material and compostable, decorative aggregate. It details the type of product's general specifications, accompanied by photographs, and outlines its benefits, applications, and incompatibilities as a garden material. Additionally, this entry serves as a gateway to a wealth of DIY resources, with a list of comparable alternatives, articles offering design inspiration and fundamental principles, and a collection of straightforward, step-by-step instructions for constructing your own garden features.

Important note: As this is a general page about Strulch, it is essential to note that variability factors exist, not just between brands but also between products from the same supplier. If a product's appearance or any other aspect is important to you, we advise requesting a sample prior to ordering.

Strulch Specifications

material

colour

shape

sizes

fall safety

price

Wood

< 60mm

white wood

Dust & Fines

Certification

degradability

ph

diy friendly

0%

Minimal

2 years

Neutral

Material

Wheat straw

Colour

Dark brown to light straw

Shape

Flaky

 Wheat growing in a field. Jpg

Size Range

< 60mm (2.4")

Fall Safety

Unsuitable for play surfaces

Price

Premium

White Wood Content

0%

Dust and Fines Content

Minimal

 Close up of straw for gardens. Jpg

Fire Safety

No certification

Degradability

Up to 2 years

pH

Neutral

DIY-Friendly

Yes

 Garden mulch around plants. Jpg

Benefits

Decorative aggregates like Strulch offer numerous benefits in garden and landscaping designs. They enhance look great while improving soil health, moisture retention and providing practical solutions for weed suppression and pests, like slugs and snails.

Strulch, in particular, offers the added advantage of being an organic mulch, promoting a more natural and sustainable approach to gardening. Strulch reviews often highlight its effectiveness in suppressing slugs and snails, a common pest issue in gardens. It is also pH neutral, making it excellent for vegetable gardens which can badly underperform in alkaline soils.

Using straw for gardening as a mulch offers the advantage of staying put in sloped areas, where wood chips can wash away in rain. Birds don't flick it around and dig it as much as with wood chippings.

  • Inhibits weeds
  • Improves drainage
  • Compostable
  • Eco-friendly, organic
  • Low-maintenance
  • Moisture retention
  • Versatile all-rounder
  • pH neutral
  • Deter slugs and snails
  • Not fire safety compliant
  • Root protection
  • Easy to lay

Applications

Strulch finds specific applications in both decorative and practical aspects of gardening. It's widely used in flowerbeds and vegetable gardens due to its organic nature and effectiveness in moisture retention and weed suppression.

In the following section, we list many common Strulch uses in landscaping. Wherever there is a hyperlink beside an item, an article from Outdoor Aggregates about the topic is available.

 Mulched tomatoes growing on the ground. Jpg

Inspiration and Informational Articles

  • 14 of the Best Garden Mulch Types: Our Guide
  • Ground cover and decorative borders
  • Planters and pot plants

Need to work out how many bark chippings your project needs? Try our free bark and wood chip calculator.

 Rasberries growing in a garden. Jpg

Unsuitable For

The following list represents the kinds of applications that Strulch may not be suitable for:

  1. 1
    Around aquatic gardens or areas with excessive moisture.
  2. 2
    For raising young plants or seedlings which need more Nitrogen, especially if turned-in to the soil.
 Small leafy plant growing in straw mulch. Jpg

Similar Alternatives to Strulch

The following is a list of decorative aggregates which are alternatives to Strulch. They may offer you a more suitable variation on the primary colour, a more economical option, or a close substitute for cases where the base material may be unsuitable for the project you are creating, e.g. landscaping bark for a play area, where play chips may be safer. The price averages are based on the cost of a standard bulk bag, approximately 1㎥.

Name

Colours

Material

Size

Shape

Availability

Price

brown to red

Bark

10-60mm (0.4-2.4")

nuggets

UK, USA, EU

brown to red

Bark

20-60mm (0.8-2.4")

irregular

UK, USA, EU

brown to red

Bark

20-60mm (0.8-2.4")

irregular

UK, USA, EU

white or red

5-40mm (0.2-1.6")

chips

UK, USA, EU

white or red

10-40mm (0.4-1.6")

chips

UK, USA, EU

brown to red

Wood

10mm (0.4")

mulch

UK, USA, EU

brown

Cocoa

5-40mm (0.2-1.6")

shells

UK, USA, EU

Under £80

£80-£120

£120-£150

£150-£200

£200-£300

£300+

Maintenance

 Laying hay mulch in a garden. Jpg

Infrequent replenishment of the mulch will be necessary to maintain the benefits and coverage.

Purchasing Tips

 Strulch next to a fork and plant pot. Jpg

When purchasing Strulch, consider factors like the size of the area to be covered and the specific needs of your garden or landscape. Compare Strulch reviews to understand its performance in various settings, particularly in gardens similar to your own.

Our bark and wood chip calculator will give you a quick and unbiased estimate for your project needs just by taking a few measurements of the space. It is one of the best and easiest ways to order the right amount and helps avoid shortfalls or over-spending. Purchasing in bulk loads can offer better value than purchasing in single bag quantities. Therefore, calculating accurately can save both time and money. It is also important to consider the delivery aspects, including vehicle access to the site. Additionally, you can use our site to check local prices, stock availability, VAT and transportation costs if applicable. (Feature coming soon)

FAQs

What is Strulch and what are the benefits of using it in gardening?

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How do I apply Strulch to my garden beds?

Apply Strulch by evenly spreading a layer approximately 3-6 cm (1-2 inches) thick over your garden beds, ensuring it covers the soil around plants without smothering them.

Can Strulch be used for all types of plants?

Strulch is generally suitable for most plant types, thanks to its neutral pH. However, it may not be ideal for plants that prefer highly acidic or very specific soil conditions.

Does Strulch help with weed control?

Yes, Strulch effectively helps control weeds by forming a barrier that suppresses their growth and prevents sunlight from reaching the soil surface.

How long does Strulch last in the garden before needing replacement?

Strulch typically lasts 1-2 years in the garden before it decomposes and needs replacement. This can vary based on environmental conditions and the thickness of application.

Are there any precautions or considerations when using Strulch in the garden?

When using Strulch, ensure it's not packed too tightly around plant stems to avoid moisture buildup and potential rot. Also, be mindful of its degradability and plan for periodic replenishment.

There are many wonderful types of wood chippings available for your project needs. Check them out!

About the author 

Ben Parrot is a landscape gardener and amateur geologist. He is the founder of Outdoor Aggregates, with the mission to create the first encyclopaedia for decorative aggregates. From natural stone through to decorative bark, these aggregates are critical to garden and landscape design, universally.

The problem: There isn't any place where all the different types of decorative landscaping materials and construction aggregates can be found, nor are the specifications of each type readily available. So, enriched by his extensive experience, and inspired by the timeless elegance and raw beauty of stone and rock, etched by nature's artistry over millennia, Outdoor Aggregates was born.