More than a Warm Wool Sweater by Patty Coughlin

 

Capella Ranch, Lafayette All photos by Patty Caughlin

Last May, I had the opportunity to visit the Bee Huts at Capella Ranch in Lafayette, CO.  While touring the Ranch, I saw the sight above. It looked like snow, but after talking with Carolyn, one of the owners, she told me that this was “waste wool” from sheep that was covering the new plants and seeds! My curiosity was piqued - I had never heard of wool being used for gardening mulch, so I decided to investigate.

 

Most of the studies on wool mulch, I found, have been done using sheep wool.  While most of the wool obtained during shearing is used in textile production, 20% of it - the “waste wool” from the hind area and underbelly, is discarded.  During Covid, when interest in home gardening exploded, this waste wool, an organic, biodegradable substance, found its niche.

 What are the benefits of using ‘waste wool’ in the garden?

• Water savings
• Fertilization
• Increased porosity of hard clay soils
• Pest control

Wool acts like a sponge, holding up to 20 to 30 times its weight in water. Think of wearing a wool sweater in the rain. Wool “wicks away” water from the skin.  When mixed into the soil, wool holds the water closer to the plant roots, allowing a “slow release” action, helping to avoid overwatering.  In turn, this aids in water conservation.  Albert Wilde, a 6^th generation sheep rancher from Utah who has patented the development of wool pellets as a gardening supplement, worked with university research teams, conducting a “wilt study.”   This study involved planting identical plants in 4” pots, each with an equal amount of water to start, then observing how long it took the plants to die without the reintroduction of water.  Here is what they found: 

• Traditional soil had wilting plants on days 1 and 2 and dead plants on days 5 and 6
• Soil married with wool had wilting plants on days 7 and 8 and then dead plants on day 14

Wool is also an excellent fertilizer.  Wool is high in Nitrogen (9.3-14% compared to compost which contains 1-2%) and it biodegrades slowly, typically over 1 – 2 years.  Wilde, in conjunction with Utah State University Extension researchers, found that greenhouse-grown tomatoes could be market-ready in half the time if wool pellets were added to the soil (76 days (about 2 and a half months) to 38 days).  They liked the nitrogen pop!

Because of its ability to absorb so much water, wool can also aid in breaking apart impacted clay soils, thus increasing the passage of oxygen and nutrients to the plant roots.

Finally, observational studies have shown some benefits in pest control.  The shaft of the sheep wool fiber contains barbs.  Think about how wool is “scratchy” on the skin.  This is due to the barbs on the wool fibers.  Slugs and aphids may be deterred by the barbs, though I could not find any research studies to verify this.  There have been some reports of the deer being repelled by the smell of the wool. 

Waste wool can be purchased from local ranchers, and wool pellets can be purchased online from several sources.  I just googled “waste wool” and multiple sites popped up. 

"After" showing plants growing with wool mulch

So next time you put on your warm wool sweater, remember the agricultural benefits of wool mulch!

“4 Reasons to introduce wool into your garden”, American Wool, May 21, 2021. 
https://www.americanwool.org/4-reasons-to-introduce-wool-into-your-garden/ 

“Wool: A Natural Bio-Enhancement for Gardens”, Jaelyn Whaley, South Dakota State University Extension, June 6, 2024. 
https://extension.sdstate.edu/wool-natural-bio-enhancement-gardens#:~:text=Wool%20increases%20soil%20water%20holding%20capacity.&text=Mixing%20wool%20into%20the%20soil,sustainable%20way%20to%20conserve%20water 

“The Use of Wool in Compost and other Alternative Applications”, Ohio State University Sheep Team, Dr. Cate Williams, March 23, 2021. 
https://u.osu.edu/sheep/2021/03/23/the-use-of-wool-in-compost-and-other-alternative-applications/ 

Special thanks to Carolyn Peterson, owner of Capella Ranch for allowing me to visit the Ranch and take pictures!

 

 

 

Ewe Should Mulch Your Garden: Using Animal Wool as Garden Mulch by Kara Olyowski

Wool mulch in my garden: Kara Olyowski

Mulching is a key practice in any garden, providing numerous benefits from moisture retention to weed suppression. While traditional mulches like straw, wood chips, and leaves are commonly used, there's an unsung hero in the world of mulching: animal wool. This season I intertwined two of my passions, gardening and fiber arts, and I’m experimenting with wool mulch in my herb garden. Let's dig into why you should consider this natural and sustainable material for your garden.

What is Mulch?

Mulch is “any material that provides protection and improves the soil when applied to the soil surface.” There are many different types of mulch from organic (wood chips and grass clippings) to inorganic (gravel and rock.) Using mulch in your garden helps in many ways. By applying a thick layer of mulch it helps suppress weeds. It allows the soil to stay moist longer by slowing down evaporation from the sun. Mulch also helps combat erosion by providing a barrier to hard soil for rain to fall on and cause runoff. Lastly, mulch will break down over time and add to the soil’s nutritional capability and texture. These are all great reasons why spending time now will pay off dividends later in your garden!

What is Wool Mulch?

Wool mulch is essentially the fleece of sheep or other wool-bearing animals, like llamas or alpacas, that hasn't been processed into yarn or fabric. It can come in various forms, including raw fleece, felted wool, or wool pellets. Every year farmers and ranchers shear their wool-bearing animals and have what is called waste wool from the process. This is less desirable wool for yarn that comes from the animal’s belly, neck, legs, and backside, but is perfect for use in the garden. You can find waste wool on Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, Craigslist, and talking to local producers at 4-H events and county fairs. 

Llama; photo by Kara Olyowski

Benefits of Wool Mulch

Wool mulch has all of the same benefits as typical organic mulches. In addition, wool can hold up to 30% of its weight in water making it an excellent choice for retaining soil moisture in our dry climate. Wool takes a long time to break down and as it does, it slowly and steadily releases valuable nutrients, like nitrogen, into the soil for your plants. When you look at the texture of wool under a microscope, you will see tiny scales. These scales look like barbs to slugs and snails and deter them from crawling on the mulch and onto your plants. Lastly, using wool makes use of a renewable resource that might otherwise go to waste.

How To Use Wool Mulch

I am using raw llama fleece in my herb garden. First, I made sure the fleece sections didn’t have any vegetable matter or twigs in it. I spread it around each of my plants, creating a layer about 2-4 inches thick. Some companies are realizing the benefits of this resource and are creating wool pellets. These wool pellets are being marketed as a fertilizer and not as a mulch.

Incorporating animal wool into your mulching routine is a great way to promote healthier plants and more efficient water usage. Its unique properties make it a good choice for gardeners seeking sustainable and effective solutions. Give wool mulch a try, and your garden may just thank you for it!

For further information you can check out:

4 Reasons to Introduce Wool into your Garden

The Use of Wool in Compost and other Alternative Applications

Mulching: CMG GardenNotes #245

These are my photos:

A picture of my herb garden with wool mulch

A picture of a llama before he is sheared.