topic Re: Mulching today in Garden

Mulching today

Snicks1 — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 15:08:49 GMT

I started mulching, or adding some additional mulch to my beds around the pool yesterday. After all my complaining about not being able to get out there, now here I am, so sore and stiff that I can hardly move, lol. When it warms up a bit more later today I will be back out there hopefully to get more done. I have asked the local gardening club and they say it's ok to plant now, but I'm not so sure, we are still getting dangerously close to the freezing point during the night around here.

Re: Mulching today

JustJazzmom — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 15:17:00 GMT

You can plant as the mulch will keep the soil temps even instead of that freeze thaw phenomenon seen. If it’s to be chilly, throw an old sheet or drop cloth over the plants before the sun sets. The absorbed heat into the soil will keep those plants warm through the night.

Re: Mulching today

cerb — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 15:54:22 GMT

Hi Snicks - we're in full-out Spring here in southern CA and we have a lot of work to do around here. My DH and I have been pruning back bougainvillea and lantana every week for a month and we're still not done (we pack our green waste can to overflowing and that's our sign to quit, lol).

Yesterday I spent 4 hours just in the front flower beds; raked out the dead leaves, weeded, planted some flower seeds, dug up a small dead bush, planted a red geranium in it's place, etc. Also transplanted my tomato seedlings into bigger pots. And I'm still not done. There's a stubborn patch of bermuda grass/weeds in there that I may never get rid of. If it makes you feel any better - I'm feeling quite stiff and sore too.

Today I'm going to do a bit more gardening, turn the compost, juice lemons from our tree, and maybe trim some goat hooves if my body's feeling up to it. This is the busiest time of year in our yard!

Re: Mulching today

Snicks1 — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 23:48:07 GMT

@cerb, hey girl, how're you doing? I am always so stiff and sore, every spring, when getting started on outside work. I did some more today, but ran out of mulch before I ran out of area that needs mulch, lol. Will need to get more, maybe tomorrow. Nice posting with you again. Don't wear yourself out now, lol.

Re: Mulching today

cerb — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 00:13:14 GMT

@Snicks1 Today's gardening went well. I took it a little easier and I think it loosened up the muscles rather than making them worse. I turned the compost, did a bunch of watering, then planted succulents in an old wheelbarrow that I've been hanging on to for about 3 years thinking I would eventually get around to doing that. Well, I finally did it!

Have fun buying more mulch

Re: Mulching today

Lilysmom — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 08:33:39 GMT

@Snicks1, spent the afternoon in the yard too. I love the look of freshly mulched beds. A great way to start the season. LM

Re: Mulching today

Allegheny — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 00:52:20 GMT

I am stiff and sore as well. We finally got some beautiful Spring weather and I've spent the last three days doing clean up. Probably have at least another three days of work before the beds are done. Sooo many leaves. But it does invigorate me and I think out my strategy to make Spring clean up easier.

Re: Mulching today

JustJazzmom — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 18:28:15 GMT

On Friday, one of my sons helped me put into his trunk the 4 cedar bags of mulch I needed for the rose garden. Saturday, I put down 3 bags. Kept one aside for future.

Yesterday, I finished pruning remaining roses — ‘Blanc Double de Coubert’, ‘Julia Child’ & ‘Tamora’. I then applied around each rose a granular systemic insecticide. Today, I applied Rose Tone (1st feeding) around all my roses & the clematis that is in the center of my rose garden.

Now to pray & hope that they all start regrowing & blooming again.

Re: Mulching today

JustJazzmom — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 18:29:11 GMT

On Friday, one of my sons helped me put into his trunk the 4 cedar bags of mulch I needed for the rose garden. Saturday, I put down 3 bags. Kept one aside for future.

Now to pray & hope that they all start regrowing & blooming again.

Re: Mulching today

ptagirl — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 20:12:54 GMT

Going to have to remove all our mulch...full of termites!... Just discovered them yesterday...now have to have termite control to come and inspect and possibly treat around the house..

Be careful of mulch...can harbor unwanted guests...JFYI...

Re: Mulching today

yellowrose — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 20:25:52 GMT

Oh gosh @ptagirl Xtra work for you. So sorry about the termites.

I never put mulch around the foundation of our house. We have a log home so sure

don't want anything attracting those unwanted guests.

I finished all my gardening a couple weeks ago, and yes, I was dirt tired and dirt sore.

I do my gardening in March, to beat the heat. We always seem to get a late freeze

which leaves me covering up sensitive plants, but I'd rather chance the cold than chance the heat showing up early.

Re: Mulching today

ptagirl — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 21:08:58 GMT

@yellowrose wrote:
Oh gosh @ptagirl Xtra work for you. So sorry about the termites.
I never put mulch around the foundation of our house. We have a log home so sure
don't want anything attracting those unwanted guests.

I finished all my gardening a couple weeks ago, and yes, I was dirt tired and dirt sore.
I do my gardening in March, to beat the heat. We always seem to get a late freeze
which leaves me covering up sensitive plants, but I'd rather chance the cold than chance the heat showing up early.

Yes, it will be a little extra work for us. My hubbie decided to mulch around the house last year....this is the first time we've ever had termites in the mulch.

Now after the snow's been off for the last week, he noticed a few ground moles around the house...when placing the traps, he noticed the termites....

So tomorrow, the termite company will come and assess the situation , but we see no other signs around the foundation or under the house,...so hopefully they're only in a very small area (but we'll still have to remove all the mulch)....and can be eradicated ASAP!.....

We finally got some warm weather the last few days, so I've been washing, scrubbing, scraping our deck for preparation of painting...that, too, is a lot of work...I like to do things like this in the spring, if possible, but this year has been horrible for snow in our area... we've been so cold, too...can't do much when it's cold and snowing..

Hope it's done for this year!

Re: Mulching today

Snicks1 — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:11:15 GMT

I spent most of my day pulling some new tiny little weeds out of the old mulch (don't remember these weeds coming up there before), anyway I wanted to get them out by the roots. In the morning I will be buying about 10 more bags of mulch and gas for the mowers. Will see if I mow first or spread mulch first. Either way, I hope to have both jobs done by tomorrow evening. Then I will be visiting the local nurseries to see what I want for my big pots this year, every year I do something different.

Re: Mulching today

ptagirl — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 19:13:31 GMT

@ptagirl wrote:
@yellowrose wrote:
Oh gosh @ptagirl Xtra work for you. So sorry about the termites.
I never put mulch around the foundation of our house. We have a log home so sure
don't want anything attracting those unwanted guests.

I finished all my gardening a couple weeks ago, and yes, I was dirt tired and dirt sore.
I do my gardening in March, to beat the heat. We always seem to get a late freeze
which leaves me covering up sensitive plants, but I'd rather chance the cold than chance the heat showing up early.
Yes, it will be a little extra work for us. My hubbie decided to mulch around the house last year....this is the first time we've ever had termites in the mulch.

Now after the snow's been off for the last week, he noticed a few ground moles around the house...when placing the traps, he noticed the termites....

So tomorrow, the termite company will come and assess the situation , but we see no other signs around the foundation or under the house,...so hopefully they're only in a very small area (but we'll still have to remove all the mulch)....and can be eradicated ASAP!.....

We finally got some warm weather the last few days, so I've been washing, scrubbing, scraping our deck for preparation of painting...that, too, is a lot of work...I like to do things like this in the spring, if possible, but this year has been horrible for snow in our area... we've been so cold, too...can't do much when it's cold and snowing..

Hope it's done for this year!

Termite inspection yesterday....reported we have a very small problem, but they will be treating our home soon, just to be safe...

Started painting my deck railing today...seemed nice to be able to be outside without freezing... just one large project after another.....

Re: Mulching today

JustJazzmom — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 23:36:13 GMT

@ptagirl There are products now that get sunk into the soil in canisters with a specific chemical that works on stopping a part of a termite’s life cycle on baited wood. It’s called the Sentricon system.

What you probably saw over the mulch were the flying termites looking to mate. If you see wings alongside your window frames or near the mulch, it means they have mated. Termites drop their wings after mating.

This fact sheet gives basic info we send to homeowners. Your state may have slightly different info re: treatment & the kinds of chemicals used as it varies from state to state.

http://ccenassau.org/resources/-termites

Re: Mulching today

ptagirl — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 12:34:47 GMT

@JustJazzmom wrote:
@ptagirl There are products now that get sunk into the soil in canisters with a specific chemical that works on stopping a part of a termite’s life cycle on baited wood. It’s called the Sentricon system.

What you probably saw over the mulch were the flying termites looking to mate. If you see wings alongside your window frames or near the mulch, it means they have mated. Termites drop their wings after mating.

This fact sheet gives basic info we send to homeowners. Your state may have slightly different info re: treatment & the kinds of chemicals used as it varies from state to state.

http://ccenassau.org/resources/-termites

@JustJazzmom..thanks so much for the information...I hope everyone reads it.

Thanks again, and have a great day!

Re: Mulching today

Another new name Sue — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:17:59 GMT

I mulch a lot, usually get it from HD or OSH. (I’m not fond of the colored stuff from HD but have used it some because it’s inexpensive.) It helps hold down weeds and retains moisture. Looks nice too. Some groundcivers can do the same. I have found ants in it though. Also local critters like opossums like to dig for dinner as the mulch can help earthworms live. I have mulched with lawn clippings, and it really increases worm populations and a lot of critter digging at night leaving holes in the garden.

Re: Mulching today

Snicks1 — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 14:56:33 GMT

I finished my mulch job, and got the lawn mowed. It looks so nice. Also added a few more lavender creeping phlox to a bed (damaged when work was being done by the city, a couple years ago), anyway I was tired of waiting for the bed to fill itself in. Planted a couple pots on my deck, and decided to try planting a few hostas around a big old pine tree which will not let grass grow under it, lol. Hosta like shade, so am trying that this year, if they live and do well, then I'll add more to this area. Still have 3 larger pots to plant and want to get a couple hanging pots. Always some fun things to do outdoors.

Re: Mulching today

JustJazzmom — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 15:05:00 GMT

@Another new name Sue, at this time of year, I am seeing squirrels searching for nuts they have buried over the fall so that is where I see breaks in my mulch.

Mulch is great for many reasons I have previously mentioned — keeps soil temps even, reduces water requirements for plants & acts as a weed block for many weed seeds. Yes, you will get some break through of certain weeds in mulch such as clover, certain thistles or maybe crabgrass or some grasses spreading through their underground runners.

In my experience, mulch reduces my weeding time to very little. If you see crabgrass, try and remove it completely before it sets seed. Thistles like dandelions have taproots so that forked dandelion tool works really well at removing thistles too. In certain areas of my garden, like my rose garden I apply cedar mulch, then sprinkle Preen without fertilizer in the container over it. At least the Preen acts as a protective weed barrier for several months provided you do not break through the soil & dig it.

In places where you see bare soil, you may see tiny holes. Could be evidence of ground dwelling bees or with larger holes, cicada wasps nests for their one egg with a food source (a stunned, stung cicada).

Ants are always foraging so there will be ant hills among mulch at times. Either live with it or pour boiling water over the area. They do serve a purpose — aerate the soil, help distribute microbes through your soil.