Ok, help again please?

Question

When is the best time to clear out the dead from my flower beds? and when do I put mulch on them as to keep weeds down. I hate pulling weeds but I do it. What is the best mulch to use?

Answer 1

The best time to clear up your flower beds is in the fall. 2nd best is early spring when the ground has thawed. Removing dead foilage is best in the fall because disease and pests can overwinter in the garden. I use cedar mulch as it has deterrent properities. Mulch also aerates the soil. I just dig mine under the soil in the spring where it aerates. I then purchase new mulch in the spring. The link I have posted for you gives you the depth of the mulch to use in your garden. Be careful in using cocoa bean mulch around pets, as this mulch is poisonous to them,(chocolate). I don't use red cedar as it poisons the soil. I have posted a link for you to view. Hope this helps! Sunkeeper

Answer 2

Make it a habit to remove all your flowers on the weekend following Halloween. Immediately add lime (granular or bone meal), and a basic 10-10-10 fertilizer to the ground. Use a Heavy Rake to migrate the mixture into the existing soil or any topsoil you may wish to add. Rake in the mulch you have had as well.

About St. Pat's Day add a another dose of 10-10-10 and the bonemeal mixture and stir as best you can. If you can, add some Spaghnum moss to mix with the above. Actually water the bed for a short time.

Purchase your prized plants and put them in place after you have properly re-tilled the soil. There is no need for any fertilizer at this point. Go to a Professional Supplier and ask for a weed prevention and elimination granular. There are a few on the market such as Preen. The Best is Dyclomec 5G. This will kill any existing and prevent any further weeds.

Apply the Dyclomec, carefully over the bed area as per directions. Then apply your mulch. It may surprise you to know that the deep colored shreded mulches are inferior to most. A light layer of cypress/redwood mulch topped by Large Nugget mulch do a better job. Reapply the Dyclomec the weekend after the 4th of July and you should have no weeds. During this application spread more 10-10-10.

Answer 3

you know, this is all pretty good advice.. the cutting of dead plants, etc.. all fine.

But the mulch.. Straw is a bad answer. Straw has the potential to carry a lot of weed seed. Obviously not a good thing. Further, black plastic will raise soil temperatures, especially in the sun. This can encourage growth too early and if late frost should come, it can be catastrophic. Further, plastic doesn't let moisture and nutrients into the soil and it doesn't add anything to the soil when it degrades.

Bark mulches are the best option. They should contain a minimal amount of wood fiber. Hardwood and Pine barks are common where I live and both are good for mulch. I use Cedar mulch (and pay a premium for it) because it's long lasting and resists decay and bugs. Above all, I like it's look.

A good mulch helps regulate soil temperature and moisture, inhibits weed growth, helps control moisture and ideally adds organic matter to the soil. A nice finished look is just an added benefit!

Answer 4

Mulch? Well, straw or, if you can stand it, black plastic.
There was a craze some time back for cocoa bean pods; the only drawback with them is that that they faintly smell of chocolate and it is not particularly nice if you prefer the scent of your flowers.

You can pull things out of your garden beds now. I don't know where you live but it is a little cold here in the North East because the ground is frozen and it is too cold out to work in the garden. If you leave things as they are, it will not matter.

Answer 5

I weed my garden during the fall. I mulch it during the spring when the plants are starting to bloom.

Answer 6

you should start preparing your gardens in the fall but you can also do it early spring such as now. My Mom and sister love to use Cypress mulch, because it doesn't wash away when the rain comes and it's got a nice golden color.

Answer 7

Frank at Frankies Flowers can answer every question correctly for you. e-mail him at [e-mail]. He is on City On Line every Friday at 12:30 on Citytv in Toronto. He's great!

Answer 8

now