On 7/31/11 11:07 AM, James wrote:
By the way, the mulch is cedar bark.

James

To inhibit weeds, you might need a mulch that is more dense.

I use hardwood leaves -- ash, oak, liquidambar, and zelkova -- and allow
them to pack down. I rake the leaves from my lawn and paved areas in
the autumn and place them in my beds. I also place fallen small
branches over the leaves to prevent the wind from removing them. Around
my oak (Quercus lobata), I anchor the leaf mulch with chickenwire pegged
into the ground.

Around my camellias, I use the output of my office shredder.

Both leaves and shredded paper form dense layers throught which weeds
have trouble growing. No, they don't completely prevent weeds; but they
sure do inhibit them.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary