• Big_Boss_77@lemmynsfw.com
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    5 months ago

    Are those new lilies? I’ve always wondered how they would do coming up through mulch. I’ve got a bunch around my place I’d love to mulch up to help keep the weeds down.

    • SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.worldOP
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      5 months ago

      No they are established, about 3 years iirc.

      My old mulch was getting well old and I never turned it, so it was really dense, so some of the Lillie’s had issues coming up this year, I do try to loosen it where they are for that reason. You can see the one just in behind the other in front of the window, so small.

      To answer the question I guess. I have hostas in another bed that had the same mulch that never came out last year, I figured they died from the heat the year before like the rest. They came back this year when I stripped the mulch.

      So I’m gonna be more diligent stirring the mulch yearly, I’ve also stuck bamboo stakes by each plant so I can pull mulch back in the spring to let the sun hit the soil sooner. I’ve heard that can help. It gets to -40c here, hardiness zone 3 for CAD and USA

        • SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.worldOP
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          5 months ago

          My understanding is the smaller the size the more densely it packs and therefore the harder for stuff to grow through.

          Anything can be a mulch too, rocks, leaves, straw, bark, plastic, cardboard. Find what fits your price and aesthetics, it’s mostly the same end result, but different pros and cons. Like I wouldn’t use rocks in a veggie garden, straw is great since you can compost and mulch it end of season, bark would need to be removed.

            • SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.worldOP
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              5 months ago

              So do we all bud hahah. Pull what you can, and if it’s a few plants put some landscaping fabric down and something you find pretty on top. The deeper the mulch, the mor wit suppresses the weeds.