CULT:TB:Mulch
From: StorYlade@aol.com
Since the subject of mulch or cover on TB beds has reared it's controversial
head again,(!) I thought I would report on the stuff I am doing. It is all
wrong, of course.
As you may recall, I had top soil dumped and wheeled (barreled) into place
for new raised beds. I covered the area first with a generic (Lowe's best)
granulated fertilizer, had the soil wheeled into place, tilled the soil,
placed soaker hoses on the soil, threw landscape fabric on the beds, and
tucked the sheets neatly on the corners, hospital style. (LOL) Later, I put a
thin layer of LARGE Cedar Bark chips on the beds to cover the LSF.
The bed in front, (not the seedling bed) is growing any number of flowers as
companion plants: red petunias, dusty miller, yellow moss rose, cannas, black
sunflowers, tall yellow marigolds, red salvia, dahlias, day lilies, and now
cushion mums trimmed and planted for the fall display. On occasion, I put a
container full of Miracle Grow inline between the garden hose and the soaker
hose. (You could say they are mainlining!) On other occasions, I
accidentally get MG on the irises as I water newly planted flowers.
Today, as I planted mums and deadheaded annuals, I kept poking around the
irises to see if they were rotting. I am happy to report that I have no
rot--at least, not yet. Irises are growing well, but appear to be quite
solid.
Just another interesting observation from BW in BG KY. Or so she thinks.
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