This 'magic' mulch has helped my plants survive both heatwaves and heavy downpours - they're thriving because of it

This budget-friendly garden buy is helping my plants stay hydrated, healthier and happier through unpredictable weather

Rocketgro magic mulch in a pot with lobelia flowers 3200x1800
(Image credit: Future/Jenny McFarlane)

I don't use the word 'magic' that often when it comes to things I use in the garden, but RocketGro's Magic Mulch, £14.84 from Amazon, has genuinely lived up to its name in my garden this year.

I've been using it everywhere from my plant pots to flower beds, largely because our weather has been so unpredictable of late. One week it's pouring with rain, and the next I'm rushing around with a watering can trying to keep everything alive.

Since I've started using Magic Mulch, though, I've noticed a big difference. The plants that would normally start looking wilted and sorry for themselves are looking much happier, and I'm worrying less about watering my plants in hot weather because the compost and soil are staying moist for longer.

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And this is just one of the many benefits of using this magical stuff. Here's all it can do for your plants this summer.

I've actually tried plenty of different types of mulch in the past, and the biggest benefit I've found is its ability to regulate moisture levels, and that's where Magic Mulch really comes into its own.

It forms a protective layer over the soil and compost, slowing down evaporation and helping the ground stay cool and damp during warm spells. At the same time, it's also brilliant during rainy spells. I've found it helps protect my plants in pots from very heavy rain by preventing compost from being saturated and waterlogged, while also improving soil structure in my borders. Hence, excess water drains away more effectively, and that's what Holly Reaney, content editor at Period Living, found in her new-build garden.

rocketgro magic mulch scooped out of bag

What RocketGro Magic Mulch looks like straight out of the bag

(Image credit: Future/Jenny McFarlane)

I've been happily spreading it around my flower beds to help protect my plants from slugs and snails, where slugs are a constant battle. While no product can promise a completely pest-free garden, this mulch says slugs don't particularly like it, and I've found some of my vulnerable plants seem to be faring much better this year, bar the slug-loving plants like my hostas, which are an uphill battle at the best of times.

Another big plus is weed suppression. A generous layer blocks light from reaching weed seeds and suffocates any roots, so far fewer seem to pop up, which means I'm spending way less time weeding! It's now officially on the list of my go-tos for a weed-free garden.

Then there's the added bonus that it's feeding my plants at the same time. Its Peat-free, organic formula slowly releases nutrients back into the soil for up to three months, according to RocketGro. This helps to improve soil health while supporting plant growth.

I can't really fault this mulch. It feeds my plants, helps keep weeds in check, and seems to deter slugs, but what I love most is how it helps my garden cope with the extremes.

Whether it's a heatwave or days of torrential rain, my pots and borders seem to stay at that sweet spot between neither too dry nor too wet, and that's pretty darn magical!

My Magic Mulch toolkit


After seeing how much happier my plants look, RocketGro's Magic Mulch has firmly earned a permanent spot in my gardening arsenal.

Jenny McFarlane
Senior Digital Editor

Jenny is Senior Digital Editor and joined the team in 2021, working across Ideal Home, Real Homes, Homes & Gardens, Livingetc and Gardeningetc. Since getting on the property ladder, her passion for interior design and gardening has taken on a new lease of life. She loves collecting and salvaging unique items (much to her other half's despair) but sniffing out stylish home bargains is her one true love.