Today a rag-tag group of about 20 Master Gardener Volunteers descended on the Grand Ideas Garden for the Spring spreading of the mulch. A total of 40 cubic yards had been delivered and divided between two steaming piles in the parking lot positioned at the front and back of the garden.

Since the beds have been mulched every spring, we added only 1″ of fresh mulch as a top-dress.  A combination of wheelbarrows, pails (to haul), and rakes (to spread) were used to apply the shredded bark. In areas where there was no room for wheelbarrows, we used large pails to dump the mulch among the plants before spreading.

Benefits of Mulch

• controls weeds, therefore reducing the need for herbicides
• retains moisture in the soil
• as it breaks down, mulch provides beneficial organic matter to the soil
• keeps the soil cooler during hot days
• creates a visual edge to the bed
• protects plants from overzealous lawnmowers and hedge trimmers

Guidelines for Applying Mulch

•  apply mulch 2-3″ deep at the most
• top-dress with about 1″ if bed was mulched the previous season
• the more finely the mulch is shredded, the less nitrogen it will “lock up” from the soil
• keep mulch 6-8″ away from the crowns of plants to avoid sickness & rot

Save a Tree; Say NO to Mulch Volcanoes!

Many commercial landscapers and uniformed homeowners will often apply way too much mulch around trees, shrubs, or other woody plants. This literally suffocates the tree, eventually killing it. Moisture is held against the trunk and begins to rot through it. Also, if the tree or shrub is grafted onto a hardier rootstock, that rootstock could begin to grow a second tree or shrub through the mulch. This is an instance where “two for one” does not work in your favor.

The photo above displays how a correctly mulched tree should look. After mulch is applied, you should still be able to see the “root flare,” or the area of the lower trunk that curves outward toward the beginning of the root system. Remember: Trees don’t like turtle necks. They like v-necks.

Info Resource on Correct  Mulching

The MSU Extension website has a FAQs article about mulching.

Yesterday it was absolutely beautiful when I returned home from work. Since 3pm at my desk, the window was open and all I thought about was everything I could be doing outside. It was 60 degrees and sunny when I finally got out into the garden.

I cut back the rest of the coneflowers, the coreopsis, black-eyed susans, and raked out the leaves in the front, south bed. I also cleaned out all the trash that collects from the sidewalk over the winter. In the backyard, I raked a lot of leaves out of the bed, allowing more sunlight to reach the emerging spring bulb foliage. The tulip leaves are up a good 6″ and the daffodils have buds forming.

I’ve posted signs of spring on the Lot in past years, but thought it would be fun to make a comparison to Mom G’s garden this year. The heralds of the season can look different for the two of us. The Other Half and I have a small urban plot while Mom G. has a rural 40 acres.

Spring on the Lot

• the snowdrops and crocus arrive
• the returning geese can be heard overhead
• trash appears in all areas of the Lot as the snow melts
• the icecream truck passes by
• the skunk returns

Spring on Mom G’s Acreage

• the tulip foliage and crocus begin to come through the snow
• the returning sandhill cranes can be heard overhead
• tons of willow branches appear as the snow melts
• the road grater passes by
• the bear returns

…yes, that’s right, THE BEAR returns to Mom G’s garden to help himself to the bird feeders.
I suppose you would be a bit peckish after such a long, winter nap. Mom G then tucks away what is left of the feeders and in a few weeks the bear’s normal diet will be available. He’ll then leave the bird feeders alone and life in the garden can progress as normal.

Seeing that photo makes me ever-so-grateful for that little skunk.