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Message |
    
Georgie
Citizen
Username: Georgie
Post Number: 115
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 10:34 pm: | 
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We just started with a lawn maintenance company and they turned the flower/shrub beds today. Am I supposed to put mulch on top? |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 127
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 12:51 pm: |
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If we don't get a good soaking rain in the next day or two, I would run a soaker hose and turn it on so the plants get about 1" of water, THEN mulch. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 1011
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 7:57 pm: |
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Where there is dirt, something will grow. I mulch wherever I don't want weeds. In my garden pathways I roll out some weed-proof black fabric mat thing that lets moisture through, but keeps the weeding WAY down - and I put mulch on top of that. I highly recommend that for larger areas where you don't want to constantly be weeding. I also recommend black cedar mulch (cedar helps to repel insects), if you like a more natural look, like rich dark dirt. I found the cheapest mulch at Cardinal Lawn & Garden 272 Milltown Rd in
Springfield. A 3 cubic foot bag of black cedar mulch = $5.49 bag |
Georgie
Citizen
Username: Georgie
Post Number: 117
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 9:30 pm: |
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Sorry, I didn't clarify this in my first post but there was mulch on top of the beds before it got turned. There is still mulch there but it seems like there is some dirt mixed in too. I just didn't know if I should mulch on top of this. Thanks!
Also is it typical for these companies to turn the beds once a week or just in the beginning of the season? |
michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 221
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 8:49 am: |
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Pdg--thanks for your ideas, and especially re the rich dark dirt mulch...I'm not a fan of the lighter or redder colored mulches. But I have one more question re the fabric mat underneath...having removed that from some garden beds a couple of years back (because it invariably would reveal itself in lots of places, on and off), how important is that part of the deal? I want to put down mulch and will probably get the type you mentioned, but would I mostly be wasting my time (and money) without the fabric mat?
Thanks!
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Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 1027
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 12:42 pm: |
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You're not wasting your time, but weeds will push through the layer of mulch. You have MUCH less weeding with plain mulch than without it. However, you have much, much less weeding with the water-permeable mat underneath.
I only use the mat in my larger, rather wide pathways which I hate weeding (I used to spend hours weeding my rather smallish garden including the pathways, now it is a pleasure to weed a few tiny weeds every day or so while I admire my plants, deadhead flowers and enjoy the birds, bees, butterflies and occassional hummingbirds!). Sometimes weeds will grow in the mulch on top of the mat, but their roots are completely above the mat and growing only in the mulch - very easy to pull.
I bought my fabric mat two summers ago at Dubrows and it is still in great condition. I do have to put down new mulch each year b/c the black cedar mulch I use gets blown away in the Fall, and decomposes into a fairly thin layer each year. |
michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 230
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 11:34 pm: |
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THANKS very much, Pdg! |
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