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Soil, Compost & Mulch

Mulch Now or Later?

11 years ago

I have a well-established perennial bed that is not very well-planned; I acquired it with my house, and have pretty much just planted what I liked where ever it would fit. It's pretty, but mulching is darned near impossible once everything has emerged.

It's been such a cold wet spring this year that right now all I have showing are daffodils (not yet blooming), Hellebores (blooming), and some clumps of tulips, and mounds of what will be forget-me-nots. Not much else is poking its nose up yet, so this is my question: If I lay down a good layer of shredded bark now, will my veronicas and balloon plants and similar plants be able to work their way through? Will I be smothering them? If mulch keeps down weeds, will it also keep down the plants that I want? Thanks for any advice.

Vicki

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Comments (3)

wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
11 years ago
If things are cold, wet, and slow, I think I would hold off any heavy mulching for now.
Kimmsr
11 years ago
If your soil is wet and cold now is not a good time to mulch since that can keep that soil wet and cold much longer. Mulches can keep many plants, wanted or unwanted, from growing if the mulch is applied thick enough, but there are also some plants that will burst through mulch with no problem. Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinths, Crocus, etc. are pushing their way through the mulches on my planting beds now although some have yellowish tinges on the leaves coming through. That may be due to lack of sunlight or maybe a Phosphorus problem due to cold soil.
I would wait until the soil is a bit warmer and perhaps dryer before applying any mulch.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
Is it hard to mulch when the perennials have emerged because they fill the bed? If so, there shouldn't be a huge need to mulch to control weeds - the perennials themselves will discourage them. If you are mulching to replenish organic matter and add to soil fertility, then I'd elect to do that in late fall, after you've cleaned up the area for winter.

Yes, mulch can potentially slow or retard the development of any plant depending on size. Certainly it will do so with annuals or any self-seeding perennials but it also can smother other, less robust types of herbaceous perennials before they emerge from the ground. It is also just as likely to promote fungal issues and crown rots if spread completely over perennials.

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