Mulch Down

It’s important to pull all weeds in growing areas early in the season for several reasons. They grow fast and the larger they become, the more moisture and nutrients they rob from desirable plants in the area. The nasty suckers also go about their business of flowering and setting seed much quicker than ornamentals so unless you remove them early, you could find yourself with multitudes more if you turn your back for a week or two.

Removing turf that’s growing up to the stems of flowering shrubs is also important. Grass robs good things from getting to your beautiful bushes. Ever wonder why that lilac is taking so long to blossom?

I spent a few weekend hours recently removing circles of turf around 23 young Bridalwreath Spirea I planted last year as a hedge. They were fertilized afterwards with a few scoops of composted sheep manure. Next I’ll put a few layers of newspaper on the ground around each then cover that with an inch or so of bark mulch.

The treatment should last several years and the shrubs should flourish with full access to a few more applications of water-soluble fertilizer that I plan on pouring at their base.

I’m a strong believer in mulch, especially shredded bark mulch because it is readily available, affordable, and organic - eventually breaking down to enrich the soil. The dark colour adds a finished look to any garden. Other organic mulches for areas that don’t need to look attractive include straw, grass clippings, or leaves. Landscape material can be used in larger shrub beds the same way I used newspaper, to extend the weed-free time frame that bark mulch on top can provide. Some people use rocks and gravel as mulch but I’ve always been concerned about the amount of heat drawn to these materials and its effect on roots, plus it’s more difficult to divide the plants or move them.

Mulch can be bought by the bag or by the cubic yard. To find out how many yards you need, multiply the length of your garden by the width then multiply that number by the depth of your mulch (1 or 2 inches is usually sufficient). Then divide that number by 324. That’s the number of cubic yards you will need to cover your garden. Confirm your calculations with your supplier just to be on the safe side.