topic Re: Mulch in Garden

Mulch

Another new name Sue — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 13:07:21 GMT

We use mulch extensively to conserve water and keep down the weeds in my arid zone. A host was bashing mulch to promote the sale of a ground cover. Silly!

Maybe I'm being silly, but I found it annoying that someone on a gardening show would criticize an effective technique used by millions of gardeners. She also complained about hours of weeding. Try mulch!

Re: Mulch

Trix — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 13:28:56 GMT

@Another new name Sue ITA. While groundcover can be an attractive element to a landscaping, it does not completely choke out weeds. I have have Pachysandra in all of my garden beds around the property, but still have to pull weeds out of it in order to keep the weeds from overtaking the groundcover. Aside from applying a chemical such as Preen, mulch is the most effective anti-weed method I know of as a gardener. Your point about water conservation when mulch is used is absolutely something we gardeners should take into account. At my favorite local garden center they promote groundcover for what it is -- a carefree plant which is also good for areas where other plants tend to fail; quick cover for bare spots; to use around trees; as a border... but never as a substitute for using mulch.

Oh well. It's not the worst offense, but rather another wonderful example of the statements which the hosts resort to in order to sell the item they are hawking at the moment.

Re: Mulch

software — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 13:30:23 GMT

Not every solution works for everyone.

There are alternatives.

Re: Mulch

Icegoddess — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 15:55:21 GMT

Was it the sedum they have been pushing this year?

I also mulch extensively. I just put down 14 bags Monday and that was just 2 beds. Still have a three level rock garden and 4 or 5 more beds to do. I buy the bags because I have a short bed truck and we don't really have anywhere to put a large dump load to have it delivered. So, I wait for the Lowes mulch sales which, at least last year, seemed to come every two weeks.

If I mulch after the plants come up out of the ground I do get to use less. It's a little more difficult because I have to use care to get it around the plants but not cover them up vs just dumping and spreading in the areas where there are no plants.

I am trying to get some periwinkle started in the back corner of the rock garden in front of a stand of Solomon's Seal, but it's not for mulch conservation. Nothing much grows back there.

Besides weed suppression, mulch also keeps roots cool, conserves water, and it decomposes to feed the soil.

Re: Mulch

JustJazzmom — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 17:19:05 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
Was it the sedum they have been pushing this year?

I also mulch extensively. I just put down 14 bags Monday and that was just 2 beds. Still have a three level rock garden and 4 or 5 more beds to do. I buy the bags because I have a short bed truck and we don't really have anywhere to put a large dump load to have it delivered. So, I wait for the Lowes mulch sales which, at least last year, seemed to come every two weeks.

If I mulch after the plants come up out of the ground I do get to use less. It's a little more difficult because I have to use care to get it around the plants but not cover them up vs just dumping and spreading in the areas where there are no plants.

I am trying to get some periwinkle started in the back corner of the rock garden in front of a stand of Solomon's Seal, but it's not for mulch conservation. Nothing much grows back there.

Besides weed suppression, mulch also keeps roots cool, conserves water, and it decomposes to feed the soil.

Plus it keeps soil temperatures even, so plants are less likely to heave during frozen/thaw cycles.

Remember though if you use fresh, unaged mulch to add a nitrogen fertilizer over it so as it decomposes and ages it doesn't take the nitrogen from the soil when your plants are.

Re: Mulch

Icegoddess — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 17:30:31 GMT

A few years ago we had a silver maple tree taken out. Those roots are a mess, plus it was always growing down. I was continually lopping off low-hanging branches. The whole top just fell out into the street one day with just a gentle rain.

Anyways, when the tree guys came I kept looking at them grinding up all those branches and mentioned that I would like to have the mulch. Oh no, they said, there's 3 trees worth in there. I took the guy around the yard showing all the areas that had to be mulched. So, when they were done he said "Back it up boys" and they dumped it in the back of our driveway. I didn't spread any of that until the following year though because I knew not to use fresh mulch. The money I saved on mulch though more than made up for what we had to pay to take the tree down. Just my labor spreading the stuff. We still have a mound of what is left which is nothing but compost now that we are going to till into the dirt on some bare spots in the yard before putting down some Bermuda sod.

Re: Mulch

Julie928 — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 19:53:01 GMT

Our backyard is set up with a koi pond, flower beds, a shade garden, deck & patio. The rest is mulch. Flagstone paths and mulch. We have three large dogs and lots of mature trees. I gave up a long time ago trying to grow grass. I love it! I get compliments all the time from guests and neighbors about how nice our yard looks. So far this year, I've used 106 bags of mulch! I take a lot of pride in our yard and love looking out the window and thinking to myself ~ 'hey, I did all that!' :-)

Re: Mulch

cookie16 — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 01:39:04 GMT

We have used mulch around our home but now realize it throws mold spores onto the siding, windows, trim etc. We purchased this home and it was stained brown with brown trim as well. I hated it and last year we had it stained a medium grey with white trim. I love it, however, now little spores are on the exterior. They even get on our window glass. This is mulch used around the front of the home. Anyone else have this problem? Looking for suggestions.

Re: Mulch

JustJazzmom — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 03:27:25 GMT

@cookie16 wrote:
We have used mulch around our home but now realize it throws mold spores onto the siding, windows, trim etc. We purchased this home and it was stained brown with brown trim as well. I hated it and last year we had it stained a medium grey with white trim. I love it, however, now little spores are on the exterior. They even get on our window glass. This is mulch used around the front of the home. Anyone else have this problem? Looking for suggestions.

Was a mildewicide added to the product you used to stain the wood? Mulch has never caused mold spores to occur on glass. You may need to use a bleach based cleanser to remove the mold from those surfaces. How shady is the area? Lack of sun and moisture can cause mold to grow on surfaces.

Re: Mulch

Icegoddess — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 04:03:17 GMT

I have never had a problem with mold from mulch as far as showing up on the siding and I have a very shady back yard. We have green mildew going down the chimney on the north side of the house, but that's up high and there's no mulch over there.

Re: Mulch

cookie16 — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 12:38:43 GMT

if you google artillery mold spores (I don't know how to post) the mulch actually shoots these little brown spots, I guess it is from dampness. Unfortunately, my problem is probably due to the pine trees that shade my property. When we bought the house, i thought the tiny spots on the windows were from a sloppy paint job by previous owner. i need to use a razor blade to remove them prior to cleaning the windows. I am hesitant to put new mulch down, although it looks nice and does cut weeding.

Re: Mulch

JustJazzmom — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 15:01:03 GMT

The pine resin might be creating the mold.

Re: Mulch

Another new name Sue — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 12:57:08 GMT

Groundciver plants can also be effective mulch.

My post may have been petty but I thought for a host and a guest to be sharing how much they dislike mulch would be confusing to anybody learning to garden because mulch is so beneficial. I've spread about 9 bags this spring. Tried the HD colored mulch; I like the natural better.

Thank you everyone. I've enjoyed all your posts.

Re: Mulch

JustJazzmom — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 13:37:48 GMT

@Another new name Sue wrote:
Groundciver plants can also be effective mulch.

My post may have been petty but I thought for a host and a guest to be sharing how much they dislike mulch would be confusing to anybody learning to garden because mulch is so beneficial. I've spread about 9 bags this spring. Tried the HD colored mulch; I like the natural better.

Thank you everyone. I've enjoyed all your posts.

I hate to weed so mulch is my savior in the garden. I dislike colored mulch because (1) it looks 'commercial instead of residential') & (2) even though it says chemical free, I still worry about it. I like the natural wood mulch better. I use HD pine bark nuggets for most of my landscape and use cedar mulch in my rose garden to delineate it from the rest of the garden. I spread 7 3/4 bags of cedar mulch in that rose garden this past week.

Re: Mulch

Icegoddess — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 14:22:08 GMT

I don't like the nuggets, and my neighbor is switching over from nuggets because they seem to harbor more pests than regular mulch.

I do use the dyed mulch, dark brown, only because it's the cheapest. I used to use cypress, but then I found out it's bad for the environment. But, Lowes puts the 2 cu ft bags on sale for $1/bag regularly thoroughout spring and summer so that's what I buy. I hope the dye is not bad for the plants.