What do you guys use for mulch / weed blocker?
I pant lots of hosta where I once would have put mulch. If you can keep the slugs out, you will have a safe shade tolerant ground cover that is fairly easy to take care of. Unlike wood chips it doesn't catch fire so it can go right up next to the house. If you don't rake the dead leaves after a frost, they quickly decay right back into the soil. New plants come up wether you attend to them or not. Some vanities can grow to the size of a barrel, others may only be a couple inches tall. Many colors and option available.
What do you guys use for mulch / weed blocker?
Good not to have anything in a state of decay next to your home. Too many things like bugs and fugus that can cause you no end to your headaches. Plant your foundation plantings, consider crushed stone, or even sand, but never anything that is rotting.Watch out with all wood chips- there's certain molds (shotgun/artillery fungus) that may take up residence and cause issues with house siding etc. Fine away from houses.
Creeping Charlie is edible & will grow like crazy in the shade. Will also spread like crazy if you don't watch it. It's in the mint family & tastes great in spring in green salads, sandwiches... Later in summer the leaves are tougher, but still not too bad.I'm trying to find edible ground cover but the damn deer are killing me.
Every time I see folks out putting down mulch I think of one of our members (I forget who) who absolutely hates the "mulch volcanoes". That always amuses me . . . not sure why . . . but it does.
Oh yeah . . . this time of year also tends to be the time of year when we get mulch fires here in the big City when restaurants, the Mall, etc. have smokers who carelessly discard their cigarettes into the dried out mulch instead of the smoking cans as they enter the building.
Hi Saves$
That sounds great! Do you have any pics of that?
Yes, when the plants are young. But about the third year, they get so thick, nothing survives but them. When frost hits, they turn rusty brown, then with a hard freeze, they drop flat on the ground like cooked spinach. Rake them off then. You might need to cut them in the fall, but if you wait until spring. They rake up fairly easy. Remember, you can get them that will grow from 6 inch to 3 feet. Many color selection. Can get infected with a rust fungus if bought from cheap outlets. Growing hostas can be a hobby. Some plants will sell for over $100. at hosta auctions. (none of mine). I'm Mr. Cheap! You can devide your clumps of plants. Swap with others and increase your collection. Number one problem with them is slugs and snails. They can grow in sun and shade. The ground they grow on seldoms dries out because of the thick canopy they provide.Hello Save$
Very nice! Is any bit of weeding still required?
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