Comments on: Mulch madness http://manolohome.com/2008/04/10/mulch-madness/ Practical Lifestyle Advice for Homemakers and Home Owners Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:49:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Eilish http://manolohome.com/2008/04/10/mulch-madness/#comment-726 Eilish Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:57:06 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/04/10/mulch-madness/#comment-726 If the mulch is organic, it will break down pretty quickly and will mix in with the organic matter and your soil to build a nice aerated environment for your plants. I have used mulch many times to loosen up clay soils. As long as the pieces are fine enough, it works great. Yours looks pretty fine. And yes, I am complimenting your mulch. As far as critters go, you can always hope that a helpful and hungry neighborhood cat will take interest and "take care of" your gophers. Who knows, they might come wearing nylon track suits and sporting pinky rings, too. Really, it's just the natural order of things. If the mulch is organic, it will break down pretty quickly and will mix in with the organic matter and your soil to build a nice aerated environment for your plants. I have used mulch many times to loosen up clay soils. As long as the pieces are fine enough, it works great. Yours looks pretty fine. And yes, I am complimenting your mulch.

As far as critters go, you can always hope that a helpful and hungry neighborhood cat will take interest and “take care of” your gophers. Who knows, they might come wearing nylon track suits and sporting pinky rings, too. Really, it’s just the natural order of things.

]]> By: Never teh Bride http://manolohome.com/2008/04/10/mulch-madness/#comment-712 Never teh Bride Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:31:39 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/04/10/mulch-madness/#comment-712 Thanks for the tips, Eilish! I didn't know one could mix it into the soil. A good friend who studied landscape design clued me into the depth restrictions, Phyllis, though I appreciate the reminder. I'm not looking forward to having to reapply, but I'm trying not to think about that ;-) As for the voles...I'm what you might call a no-kill vegetarian so I've been debating what I'll do if critters start dining on my plants... Thanks for the tips, Eilish! I didn’t know one could mix it into the soil.

A good friend who studied landscape design clued me into the depth restrictions, Phyllis, though I appreciate the reminder. I’m not looking forward to having to reapply, but I’m trying not to think about that ;-) As for the voles…I’m what you might call a no-kill vegetarian so I’ve been debating what I’ll do if critters start dining on my plants…

]]> By: Phyllis http://manolohome.com/2008/04/10/mulch-madness/#comment-709 Phyllis Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:02:35 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/04/10/mulch-madness/#comment-709 NtB - you know that you need to reapply it every spring right? It breaks down pretty fast in our area. Also - it should not be more than 4 inches deep because anything deeper will create the perfect habitat for voles, who will lt take up residence during the winter and will eat your plants down the roots (ask me how I know this.) NtB - you know that you need to reapply it every spring right? It breaks down pretty fast in our area. Also - it should not be more than 4 inches deep because anything deeper will create the perfect habitat for voles, who will lt take up residence during the winter and will eat your plants down the roots (ask me how I know this.)

]]> By: Eilish http://manolohome.com/2008/04/10/mulch-madness/#comment-707 Eilish Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:27:23 +0000 http://manolohome.com/2008/04/10/mulch-madness/#comment-707 OK, that's a lot of mulch, but you will be surprised at how fast it goes. I would also recommend turning some of that into your dirt before planting, your plants will love it. A recent article in Sunset magazine (which if you live in the west and are learning to garden is a must) mentioned putting down newspaper, about three sheets under your mulch. It will keep out the weeds better and it just dissolves into the soil after a while. Good luck with your mulching! OK, that’s a lot of mulch, but you will be surprised at how fast it goes. I would also recommend turning some of that into your dirt before planting, your plants will love it.

A recent article in Sunset magazine (which if you live in the west and are learning to garden is a must) mentioned putting down newspaper, about three sheets under your mulch. It will keep out the weeds better and it just dissolves into the soil after a while.

Good luck with your mulching!

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