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Let's Talk About Mulch
The organic material isn't really a problem. Each winter when the herbs die
back I work the debris into the soil... Also, the area where where the garden is located was once a hill which has since been terraced. It was covered with junipers, wood chips, and pine bark. I'm allergic to all three, so I dug the junipers out, and burried the rest, which was about a foot deep. It'll be a few more years before the soil will need any additional help. I'm also in the city, but I have the dubious benefit of a cement wall for a back border, which means that the rodents have to enter through the neighbors yards where the dogs are allowed to munch to there little hearts content. "Shiva" wrote in message s.com... On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 16:35:31 GMT, "kljcvlzkj" wrote: I'm not a fan of mulch. It smells, attracts ants, and doesn't do a thing for the weed population. Instead, I planted a bunch of lambs ears, thyme, mint, and oregano in the rose beds. It provides enough cover to hold moisture in and goes a long way towards keeping weeds out. Sounds good, but what do you do about adding organic stuff to your beds? Roses need good, whole food, just as we do. This is my main reason for applying mulch. Retaining moisture and controlling weeds are secondary and tertiary. I cannot imagine what you used that "smelled" and attracted ants--pine bark smells lovely. What was it you were thinking of, just curious? As for the voles, I don't have the problem - most of my neighbors have dogs... Two words: leash law. I live in the city. "Shiva" wrote in message ws.com... This topic usually comes up in the fall, but mulch is used for a number of reasons outside of winter protection, so I'm thinking about it now. Reasons for mulching, that I know of: To retain moisture (cut down on surface evaporation) To enrich the soil (as it breaks down, and why I do not consider rocks or rubber to be mulch) To protect from cold (as in mounding canes for the winter) To provide a barrier between extant fungus in the soil (mostly from fallen leaves that are infected) and new growth To make the bed more pleasing to the eye To reduce runoff of water for those of us who still handwater. My problems with mulch: No matter how thick the pine bark, leaves, or straw, I still have lots of weeds. And--it provides a perfect hiding place for voles. When it is deep enough they apparently burrow in and access the roots from *above* the plant. My decision to use oak leaves was one that meant I had thicker than usual mulch, this has meant dead roses. The holes are lined with two inches of permatil (scratchy composite "rock") but somehow the voles still eat the roots. What should I do next year? I cannot face doing anything this year, as I have too much going on. What ever is left alive in the spring will get the new treatment. For the weeds, I like Anne's newpaper idea, and actually used it a few years ago with good results. For the voles, I don't know. Maybe a layer of permatil on TOP too, just under the last layer of soil? Here is the real point of this post: If you mulch, what do you use and what do you like/dislike about it? If you don't, tell me the good points. I think I already know the bad, the worst being that bare ground is, to me, ugly. TIA |
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