We have a large area of the back yard that is covered in mulch with weed mat underneath. It is in shade much of the day so I have planted a number of ferns, palms, bromeliads and other plants. All I did was to punch a small hole in the black woven plastic weed mat for each planting. The whole area is covered with tree mulch.
Will the weed mat and mulch cover allow access to the soil underneath for the nutrients as the mulch breaks down?
When I water with something like Seasol and molasses will it just sit in the mulch and evaporate?
Should I clear a large area around each plant back to bare earth before I feed the plants(soil) and then replace the mulch without the mat?
Does the heavy mulch and mat stop effective watering or cause me to use excess water so that it gets through to the soil?