While we now understand wool’s benefits as insulation and building material, just as we’ve known its natural benefits for bedding and clothing, you may not know about its benefits in the garden. A growing movement in sustainability is wool mulch and pellets for the garden! 

Wool mulch retains moisture, suppresses weed growth, and releases nutrients over time as it decomposes. We know that wool can absorb and retain water up to 20-30 times its weight, thus helping to conserve water in dry climates or during seasonal droughts. As wool absorbs water, it expands, which increases the soil’s porosity and aeration. This is an important component for root growth. Creating space within the soil allows for better oxygen exchange, water infiltration, and nutrient absorption.

As wool decomposes, it releases nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus into the soil. So, it is not only creating aerated soil to increase nutrient absorption, it is also adding to the soil’s nutrients as it breaks down! These three elements are essential macronutrients for plant growth. Nitrogen supports strong stems and leaves and overall vitality. It also aids in chlorophyll production. Phosphorus is essential for flowering and fruiting, as well as root system development. Potassium supports health through stress tolerance and disease resistance, but also aids in nutrient transport throughout the plant.

While there are conflicting studies on how long it takes wool mulch to break down completely, we know that it generally falls somewhere between 6 months to 3 years. Much of this depends on the thickness of application, and the moisture and temperature variables in the variety of climates it’s being used in. This means that wool mulch could last for multiple growing seasons, which provides long-term benefits to the land and your plants.

Now we know that wool: