Will putting a soil covering like bark mulch help keep my shrubs and flowers alive?

Question

I've planted lillies (dried up quick) and now a more hearty shrub in an strip of soil around my patio, but despite the description on the label, the sun seems to be baking them to death, even if I water them daily. Would placing a soil cover like bark chips or mulch help to keep the soil beneath moist?

Yes, the plants I've selected are all suited for "full sun exposure"

Answer 1

What kind of lillies/shrubs are they? Sometimes plants are mislabeled...I was just at Lowe's today, and found a lot of unhappy plants that were labeled in the wrong exposures.

Answer 2

Mulch will help more than wood bark or chips. The mulch will keep the roots cool and the soil moist. If these are small plantings, (or any new plantings for that matter), make sure that you keep the soil moist but not too wet. Water every day but check the moisture content by digging into the soil around a bush with your hand first. You will know instinctively if the soil is too wet.

DO NOT let the plants dry out, it will kill them right away, like dropping you off in the Sahara Desert with just a lollipop for moisture.

Lillies are bulbs and they have different requirements. They should be planted in the fall so they can get chilled in the winter and then they will bloom in the spring. They are extremely hardy and require a lot less water. Leave the leaves on when the blooms drop because the plant stores up energy and food for the next winter and spring. You can move established lillies to other places on your estate after they have been blooming for a year or two. Some lillies will not bloom the first year, so don't get discouraged You can plant some lilly bulbs in front of the shrub next fall.

RN

Answer 3

Yes mulching your plants should keep your soil moist. You do need to apply the mulch at least 6 inches deep. Using a drip or soak er hose watering system is a much more effective way to water your plants deeply encouraging the roots to grow deep into the ground instead of shallow from watering the top of the ground.

Answer 4

Unfortunately no. Your gonna need to water those Lillie's allot. There is a covering you can use to keep direct sun lite from drying but it looks less appealing

Answer 5

yes it will be very helpful for that,but make sure that the plants you planted are supposed to be in direct sun if they're supposed to be in shaded or indirect sun they're are not going to make it unless you give them attention every day