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#1
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Stupid question from a newbie
I'm sure this is a stupid question but I don't know the answer (I don't
even know if it matters). I'm creating my first flower garden and intend on using mulch, but I don't know in which order I should do things. I am assuming I would plant first, water, then mulch...right? I am using seeds as well as partially grown plants. Do I wait for the seedlings to sprout a little before adding the mulch or will they just grow through the mulch as they sprout? I know I'll learn a lot through trial and error, but I'd like to start off on the right foot at least Thanks for any help! |
#2
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Stupid question from a newbie
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#3
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Stupid question from a newbie
wrote in message oups.com... I'm sure this is a stupid question but I don't know the answer (I don't even know if it matters). I'm creating my first flower garden and intend on using mulch, but I don't know in which order I should do things. I am assuming I would plant first, water, then mulch...right? I am using seeds as well as partially grown plants. Do I wait for the seedlings to sprout a little before adding the mulch or will they just grow through the mulch as they sprout? I know I'll learn a lot through trial and error, but I'd like to start off on the right foot at least Thanks for any help! there are no stupid questions. turn the soils, sow the seeds, plant the plants. Gently water. then mulch around the plants until the seedlings sprout and you can see who's who and after they attain a good height, then mulch around THEM. some seeds need sunlight to germinate, and not knowing what you're sowing I can't advise you on that too well. madgardener |
#4
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Stupid question from a newbie
Where you start with plants, mulch first, plant second. Reason:
mulching around plants takes a lot of time. Digging through mulch to plant, is a lot less work. Where you start with small seeds, scratch the soil, plant seeds, keep weeding until plants are much taller than the mulch depth, then mulch. Mind you, I always lose a few when I mulch small plants afterwards. When you start with large seeds (bulbs, potatoes, peas, beans), mulch first, or plant them and then mulch before they emerge. they will generally be able to push through mulch twice as thick as the seed length, unless it is matted. Grass clippings and certain deciduous leaves tend to mat. Finally, the technique I use with medium seeds (such as beets or chard). I make my own seedless soil by sifting compost, I dig a hole through the mulch, I fill the hole with the sifted compost, and plant in there. You could do the same with storebought soil instead of compost. As you can see I will do anything rather than go without mulch. The only thing I really seed directly on bare soil are certain small greens, lettuce and carrots, and even then I try to have clear plastic on the bed for a couple of weeks so as to make some weed seeds come up. If I plant perennial flowers (say, daisies), I always use the sifted compost technique. With weeds, it is easy to lose control. |
#5
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Stupid question from a newbie
Hey everyone, thanks for all the informative replies. I do appreciate
the help! |
#7
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Stupid question from a newbie
I usually don't use the bag attachment on my mower, but sometimes I'll
collect some clippings to sprinkle a 1" layer around plants. If I sprinkle it loosely, it doesn't turn into mush, and it quickly browns & blends in nicely. "Andrew Ostrander" wrote in message ... You don't NEED to mulch annuals, but it's often a good practice. By blocking sunlight mulch stops weed seeds from developing into plants. You save a lot of time weeding. It also helps reduce the rate of evaporation from the soil. On the negative side, it stops extremely light showers from reaching the soil. I do not think mulch is as attractive as bare soil so I don't use it among flowers. "Derryl Killan" wrote in message news:wvX2g.64446$7a.40291@pd7tw1no... wrote: I'm sure this is a stupid question but I don't know the answer (I don't even know if it matters). I'm creating my first flower garden and intend on using mulch, but I don't know in which order I should do things. I am assuming I would plant first, water, then mulch...right? I am using seeds as well as partially grown plants. Do I wait for the seedlings to sprout a little before adding the mulch or will they just grow through the mulch as they sprout? I know I'll learn a lot through trial and error, but I'd like to start off on the right foot at least Thanks for any help! Apply your mulch after all seeds and plants have grown 6". Why do you need to mulch annuals? Derryl |
#8
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Stupid question from a newbie
And there we have it! Joe 2-pack has spoken. (They usually can't count to 6)
wrote in message oups.com... I'm sure this is a stupid question but I don't know the answer (I don't even know if it matters). I'm creating my first flower garden and intend on using mulch, but I don't know in which order I should do things. I am assuming I would plant first, water, then mulch...right? I am using seeds as well as partially grown plants. Do I wait for the seedlings to sprout a little before adding the mulch or will they just grow through the mulch as they sprout? I know I'll learn a lot through trial and error, but I'd like to start off on the right foot at least Thanks for any help! |
#9
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Stupid question from a newbie
Oh....and when I say "stupid", it's not a personal attack. It's a fact.
"Doug Kanter" Doug wrote in message ... And there we have it! Joe 2-pack has spoken. (They usually can't count to 6) wrote in message oups.com... I'm sure this is a stupid question but I don't know the answer (I don't even know if it matters). I'm creating my first flower garden and intend on using mulch, but I don't know in which order I should do things. I am assuming I would plant first, water, then mulch...right? I am using seeds as well as partially grown plants. Do I wait for the seedlings to sprout a little before adding the mulch or will they just grow through the mulch as they sprout? I know I'll learn a lot through trial and error, but I'd like to start off on the right foot at least Thanks for any help! |
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