Been using this stuff for a few years now and have had great results! I add it as a top dress to every new cycle then monthly when the garden is established and mix it in when making new batches of living soil.
No more mucking around with lime and rock dust.
ALFA-MULCH – Organic Soil Shield
ALFA-MULCH is a multi-functional organic soil mulch designed to retain moisture, suppress pests, enhance microbial activity, and promote healthy topsoil structure. Made from coarse and fine alfalfa, hemp stalk, diatomite, yucca extract, and an organic saponin blend, it offers a complete solution for improving root zone health and resilience. Naturally rich in triacontanol, silica, and trace minerals, ALFA-MULCH boosts growth while forming a pest-repellent, microbe-friendly layer that keeps soil cooler, moister, and biologically active. Compatible with all organic soils—including GRO-DIRT—it’s the ultimate surface amendment for high-performance growing.
ALFA-MULCH – Organic Soil Shield
Sale price$15.00 AUD
ALFA-MULCH is a premium organic soil shield formulated to improve water penetration, retain moisture, promote healthy plant growth, and control pests naturally. Designed to work in synergy with living soils and organic cultivation systems, it enhances the soil surface layer—the critical zone where microbes thrive and surface roots feed. This rich blend of alfalfa, hemp stalk, diatomite, yucca extract, and natural saponins creates the ideal microclimate for root vitality and microbial activity, while serving as an effective physical barrier against pests like fungus gnats. Perfect for all grow media types including peat, coco, and GRO-DIRT.
What Is ALFA-MULCH?
ALFA-MULCH is a functional organic mulch blend formulated for modern growers who want more from their soil coverings. It improves water retention, increases microbial activity, and naturally protects your garden from pests—all while feeding the soil as it decomposes.
Each ingredient has been selected for a specific purpose: alfalfa adds slow-release nutrition and growth stimulants like triacontanol; hemp stalk structures the mulch and promotes airflow; diatomite disrupts pest breeding cycles and contributes plant-available silica; and yucca-derived saponins act as natural surfactants to boost soil hydration.
Use ALFA-MULCH as a finishing layer on top of GRO-DIRT or any living soil to create a complete, high-performance growing system.
The Science Behind ALFA-MULCH
Locally grown coarse and fine alfalfa contribute organic nitrogen, trace minerals, and triacontanol—a plant growth stimulant that supports rapid development and root expansion.
Microscopic particles of diatomaceous earth pierce soft-bodied pests like fungus gnats, causing desiccation. This forms a natural barrier without synthetic chemicals or extreme drying.
Hemp stalk fibers and diatomite hold water while keeping the mulch layer aerated and loose. This reduces water loss and buffers temperature and humidity fluctuations at the root zone.
Organic saponins and yucca extract lower water surface tension, improving infiltration into hydrophobic soils and boosting moisture consistency over time.
ALFA-MULCH supports beneficial fungi and bacteria by maintaining a moist, food-rich habitat at the soil surface. Works synergistically with top-dressed amendments and microbial inoculants.
How to Use ALFA-MULCH
General Use
- Apply a 2.5 cm to 5 cm layer of ALFA-MULCH across the soil surface.
- One litre covers approximately 16 cm x 16 cm of soil area.
- Ideal for container gardens, raised beds, and outdoor plots.
Pest Control
- For pests such as fungus gnats or scarid fly larvae, apply ALFA-MULCH dry to the soil surface and leave for 24 hours before watering. This maximizes contact time with diatomite to kill pest larvae through desiccation.
Post-Amendment
- Apply after top dressing with products like HERB-SUPERB or STONE-AGE.
- Helps protect and slowly incorporate amendments into the soil while preventing nutrient loss or crusting.
Microbial Support
- Use in conjunction with microbial stimulants like GREEN-SUPREME or DARK-MATTER for improved root colonization.
- White growth observed through mulch is a sign of beneficial microbial activity.
- Apply a 2.5 cm to 5 cm layer of ALFA-MULCH across the soil surface.
- One litre covers approximately 16 cm x 16 cm of soil area.
- Ideal for container gardens, raised beds, and outdoor plots.
- For pests such as fungus gnats or scarid fly larvae, apply ALFA-MULCH dry to the soil surface and leave for 24 hours before watering. This maximizes contact time with diatomite to kill pest larvae through desiccation.
- Apply after top dressing with products like HERB-SUPERB or STONE-AGE.
- Helps protect and slowly incorporate amendments into the soil while preventing nutrient loss or crusting.
- Use in conjunction with microbial stimulants like GREEN-SUPREME or DARK-MATTER for improved root colonization.
- White growth observed through mulch is a sign of beneficial microbial activity.
What ALFA-MULCH Delivers
Living Surface Ecosystem
Maintains a moist, aerated topsoil zone that encourages mycelium formation and active microbial cycling—essential for organic nutrient uptake.
Boosts Topdressing Efficiency
When layered over amendments, slows nutrient runoff, enhances breakdown, and improves biological access to applied inputs.
Reduces Environmental Stress
Helps stabilize surface temperatures and shield roots from UV and evaporation, buffering plants against heat, wind, and irregular watering cycles.
Signals Soil Health
Visible white fungal growth through the surface layer indicates healthy microbial expansion and efficient organic matter breakdown—signs of optimal soil function.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ALFA-MULCH and why should I use it?
ALFA-MULCH is a premium organic mulch that retains moisture, improves soil health, repels pests naturally, and feeds microbes—enhancing your grow with less watering and no synthetic chemicals.
How is ALFA-MULCH different from regular mulch or straw?
Unlike basic mulches, ALFA-MULCH contains alfalfa, hemp, diatomite, yucca, and saponins—delivering nutrients, pest control, microbial support, and water penetration in one complete surface treatment.
Can I use ALFA-MULCH with any soil or grow media?
Yes, ALFA-MULCH is compatible with all organic soils and even coco-based systems. It’s especially effective when paired with high-quality living soils like our GRO-DIRT range.
How does ALFA-MULCH help with pest control?
Diatomite in ALFA-MULCH acts like microscopic glass shards, naturally piercing and dehydrating pests like fungus gnats, interrupting breeding cycles without harming plants or microbes.
Will ALFA-MULCH reduce how often I need to water?
Yes. Its moisture-retaining ingredients like hemp stalk and diatomite reduce watering frequency by keeping the topsoil cool, damp, and biologically active for longer.
Does ALFA-MULCH feed the soil too?
Absolutely. Alfalfa adds slow-release NPK and triacontanol for growth, while trace minerals and plant-based surfactants improve microbial life, nutrient access, and long-term soil structure.