I recently learned about the benefits of using wool in the garden. This compostable and renewable amendment has countless advantages, but what struck me most was its ability to retain moisture.
Since I have sandy soil, keeping water from draining too quickly is a constant challenge. I regularly add leaves and other organic matter to help, but wool seemed like another great, natural solution. My neighbor farms sheep, so when she went to shear them last spring, I asked for the raw wool that was too dirty or unsellable. The bits with dirt and manure didn’t bother me—they’re actually beneficial for the soil!
If you don’t have your own sheep or generous neighbor, try contacting a local sheep farmer. Many sell or give away discarded wool!
Last gardening season, I decided to use wool specifically on my tomatoes and pumpkins. I wrapped it around the base of the seedlings when transplanting them, thinking it would help retain moisture right at the roots.
I also discovered wool pellets and bought a large bag to test them on a couple of garden rows. They aren’t the cheapest option, but I was curious to see if they worked. I did notice improved moisture retention throughout the season, and I was surprised that the pellets didn’t break down right away. Don’t worry—they will eventually decompose!
Using them is simple: just mix them into the soil with a garden claw before planting seeds or seedlings. You can also drop a few directly into the planting hole for extra moisture retention.
I’ve also been using wool pellets in my soil blocks, though I’m not sure yet if I love them for that purpose. I’ll update this post later in the season with my thoughts. You can also mulch with wool, but I haven’t personally tried that yet. If you’re curious about mulching with sheep’s wool, check out Sara Bäckmo’s blog!
Using wool for growing might not be as revolutionary as it seems at first. I didn’t realize until recently that rock wool is commonly used in hydroponics and seed starting. Still, I’ve found sheep’s wool to be a great addition to my garden, benefiting both my soil and plants. Plus, it’s more eco-friendly than rock wool from what I can tell, so that’s a bonus!
So far, I haven’t found any disadvantages to using wool in my garden—though it can get expensive if you don’t have access to a farmer or raise sheep yourself.
Let me know how you use wool in your garden in the comments below!
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