[*Lisa*]

Would somebody please explain mulch to me? If I put it in my veggie garden, the idea is that weeds won't be able to grow, right? But how will the plants that I want to have grow? Will they make it through the mulch? Will I need to wait until they grow to mulch around them?

Thanks for any help you can offer

 

[shaywyn]

Well, here's how it works, LOL! When placing new mulch around plants already in the ground, put it all around the plant but leave a few inches, at least one inch, bare around the stem. You can damage or cause the stem to get diseased or rot if it's right up against it. For areas that I seed, I usually place the mulch and scrape away small bare spots, or sow my seeds and wait for the plants to get large enough to put mulch around. Perrenials should come right up through the mulch each year. And self sowing plants usually come up just fine, maybe not as prolifically as on bare ground but that can be a good thing

Some plants do very well creating their own "mulch" just by self shading the ground below them.

I am sure others will chime in with lots of good ideas. Good Luck!!

 

[MaggiesMom]

No other good ideas, just support doe what Shaywyn said- I don't mulch until the plant is biggish- whether it is started right in the bed or a transplant, I mulch only when I know exactly where the seedling is, so I can avoid putting the mulch on it. When I mulch, that is.

 

[lovnbnhome]

I have heard of some people putting various decorative rocks/glass right next to where their seeds/bulbs are so they don't plant in the same spot.

. I agree with the pp about pushing a little bit of mulch out of the way or starting the seed in small pots to get them established first

Good luck!

 

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I think you can plant some things under mulch. I do peas, beans, bulbs, tubers and etc under mulch with no problem. Other things wouldn't make it though so, yea, you'll have to wait.

 

[amnesiac]

I just spread the mulch a bit before I plant the seed & leave it open in that spot.

 

[MovingMomma]

And what is good stuff for mulch? I'm looking for minimal cost & effort. Yeah, I'm cheap & lazy!

My compost isn't ready or prolific enough, & I'm not going to go out & harvest seaweed or anything like that! Any suggestions?

 

[*Lisa*]

Thanks so much for all of the replies so far... I added some mulch today

 

[farmer mama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgaydeski And what is good stuff for mulch? I'm looking for minimal cost & effort. Yeah, I'm cheap & lazy! My compost isn't ready or prolific enough, & I'm not going to go out & harvest seaweed or anything like that! Any suggestions?

If you can get no spray grass clippings from neighbors or leaves in the fall, that would be the cheapest/free. Straw is low cost and easy to use. Personally I would only use bark, woodchips or pine needles around shrubs, perinneals, certain herbs or something like blueberries (they like the acidity) because they take a lot of nitrogen to break down and can acidify the soil. Sawdust is another free mulch you can get from smaller mills, but it is best for acid-loving plants like blueberries. But they are great for paths though.

 

[MovingMomma]

Thanks!

Really dumb question coming here: Where do you buy straw??

 

[farmer mama]

Are there any farmer's co-op stores in your area? Around here they are often called Grange co-op. If not, ask your garden supply store or place where people buy animal feed. Or find a farmer in your area. A bale of straw should be between 2-7$, it will be heavy and should be enough for a good sized garden. The big downsides to straw is that it sometimes doesn't want to stay put, and also slugs may hide in it. If I am weedng I will sometimes pull back the mulch to check for any critters. Another really easy mulch is newspaper (check that the ink is lead-free and non-toxic, most are soy based now) or cardboard. Good luck!

 

[amnesiac]

I get my straw at a feed store for $5/bale. Also notice there's a difference between straw & hay.

 

[MovingMomma]

Thanks, guys! I got some straw at a feed store: $3 for a bale! Do I need to get all the weeds up before I lay down the mulch?

 

[amnesiac]

I don't. I just put it down about 3-4 inches deep & then water it down really well.