Re: mulch

Redwood!  Probably not readily (or should it  be ready? Jim?) available for
9/10's of the country.  But it's very good.

David Franzman
A Touch of the Tropics
www.atouchofthetropics.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kitty" <kmrsy@comcast.net>
To: "Agardenchat" <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2004 9:24 PM
Subject: [CHAT] mulch


> Question - poll, maybe.
> What kind of mulch do you use?
>
> I ask, because I spent the entire day at my niece's new house redoing her
> mulch.  In front, some lamebrain used black plastic about 15 yrs ago and
> then piled on the mulch.  The beautiful birch tree did find ways around it
> so that the roots were growing on top of the plastic in the somewhat
> decomposed mulch - of course making it harder to extract.  On top of this
> was some other mulch, hard to identify, more like sun-bleached wood scrap.
>
> In the back the previous owners had built a large deck.  When they
> landscaped around it they used fabric this time, but the holes they cut
for
> the plants were barely big enough for the trunks. One hibiscus had
thefabric
> wrapped loosely 5 inches up the trunk.  Over this they had a layer of
> Cypress mulch, thin in some areas, thicker in others.  I fail to
understand
> why this mulch is so popular.  In the 2 yrs it had hardened into an
> impermeable mat such that when I poured water on it, it just rolled off
like
> a duck's back.  so I cut out more fabric and broke up all the mulch -
should
> have pitched it, but tried to save her a little by just topdressing.  I
used
> pinebark all around.
>
> So why is cypress so popular other than that it takes forever to
decompose -
> another reason I don't like it?  As I understand, it is also in trouble,
> being harvested much too quickly.  Many local suppliers carry no pine
> products.  Those that do will get in 50 skids of cypress to one of pine.
> There's also hardwood mulch, but my experiences with that include bringing
> in my first slugs, and also it seems it's appearance is more variable.
>
> So what kind do you use, if you use mulch?
>
> Kitty
>
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