Natural fertiliser and mulch from raw sheep wool 
Montgomeryshire, Wales

Sheep wool is an ideal natural fertiliser for the environmentally friendly gardener. It is 100% biodegradable and a renewable resource which makes it a sustainable, safe to use, alternative. 
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The Science of Wool

Our wool comes straight from ewe to you! Raw, unwashed sheep wool has many benefits for soil and plants. As the wool decomposes it releases nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which are all vital for healthy strong plant growth. 
​Raw sheep wool contains Lanolin; wool fat, which is rich in potassium to promote root development in plants and encourage a good crop maturity ensuring plentiful fruit and seeds. In its unwashed form the wool has a strong scent which will, when wrapped around young tree shoots, deter any deer and game from eating the new growth.
The steady process of decomposing means that trace elements and nutrients are released into the soil slowly, over a long period of time. This is a much gentler and long-lasting sustainable way of getting fertiliser into the soil, compared to using quick-release synthetic fertilisers which can overwhelm the ground.
Wool has remarkable water-holding capacity and insulating qualities. Using wool in your garden will help save water, shelter your plants from the cold and protect them from heat and drying out.

The Use of Wool

If you want to use the wool as a layer of mulch on top of your soil, simply lay out the fleece evenly over the desired area without breaking it up too much. This will ensure a dense covering supressing weed growth and any existing plants can be carefully worked around. They will benefit from the insulating qualities of the wool, being kept warm in the winter months and cool and hydrated in the summer.
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If you want to do some new planting simply make a little hole in the wool mulch, set your plant and gently pull the wool back into place.
An alternative to a layer of wool mulch, is to break the wool up and work it into the soil, this can also be done in your pots. This way the wool will provide good soil aeration, helping to prevent erosion and will save you a lot of watering as wool stores moisture in the ground (avoid with root vegetables e.g. carrots).

The decomposition of the wool will vary, depending on your soil, climate conditions and the quality of the wool itself. Whether you have used the wool as a thick layer of mulch or incorporated it directly into your soil the wool will last from four months to over a year. With either method, the wool will work as a slow-release fertiliser as it continuously decomposes, enriching the ground with valuable nutrients for long term health.

Balance is key and it is important not to overdo the application of additional synthetic fertilisers.  In fact, too much nitrogen can be toxic to plants.  As wool breaks down it will be gently providing your soil with a good and natural amount of nutrients. 
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For inspiration and ideas take a look at our gallery or here. 

About What The Wool

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We are passionate about revaluing and advocating this wonderfully versatile product.  Over the last few years, the wool price has been dropping dramatically, with shearing costs now exceeding wool prices. Partly due to the textile industry largely using synthetic fabrics in clothing production, wool has sadly lost its market value. Choosing this product, you are helping to sustain a small, local business and supporting rural infrastructure and community.
We look forward to hear about your experience using wool in your garden, please get in touch for feedback, ideas for improvement or any questions at whatthewool@outlook.com or get in touch and follow us on Instagram