Climate-Wise Landscaping by Sue Reed

Author:Sue Reed
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New Society Publishers
Published: 2018-03-06T05:00:00+00:00

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Remove aggressive weeds before mulching. Mulch may be used to keep down weeds in an established bed or to start a new bed or other non-lawn area. First, remove highly aggressive weeds with deep rhizomes from the area because mulch will not impede their growth. Top with a thick layer (four or five inches) of mulch such as leaves, pine needles, or tree trimmings.

Mulch should not be a main feature of the landscape. Removing lawns is a great idea and mulch is certainly recommended between plants to reduce weeds, keep in moisture, and to improve the soil. But a mostly mulch landscape is not a reasonable answer because it’s not an inviting ecosystem for pollinators and other wildlife. A mostly mulch landscape ultimately invites weeds in all but the most arid climates because many annuals can find a foothold in the least bit of soil between mulch particles. The best solution is to grow more plants to shade the soil and leave little space for weeds. (See Section VII and IV-3 on page 113 for further discussion.)

Prevent mulch from being in contact with woody plant stems and trunks. It’s not uncommon to see a foot or more of mulch leaning against tree trunk (this is often called volcano mulching). This is harmful to trees in several ways:

• Water may be shed from the mulch away from the tree, because of the steep angle.

• Rodents and other animals can burrow and nest in mounded mulch and chew the bark.

• Fungi harbored in the mulch could rot out the base of the tree, making it vulnerable to insect invasions and disease.

• Some trees and shrubs will create new roots within a thick mulch layer. Plants’ roots should be in the soil for the best stability and the best drought resistance; in droughts, the mulch will dry out first.

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