Mulching and winter sowing - aggressive weeds

9 years ago

Any tips given would be fantastic.
This was a post i had posted in composting and mulching and it was suggested posting it here. I'd really like to sow as many seedlings into the earth as possible, i should of put that on top of all the mulch i've purchased i also have bags of steer manure mixed compost. If digging up some of the earth and replacing it would also be suggested before sowing seeds.

We've just purchased this home not to long ago and there's quite large flowering beds front, back and the sides. I've purchased a ton of seeds online as no one here had previously done any real gardening it would seem aside from the roses. In a couple of places I've planted Ipomopsis rubra and they've sprouted and some even have their second set of leaves. I'm hoping that the roots will continue to grow even if the tops die back with the winter peeking around the corner. Should i mulch around those seedlings, very carefully of course.

Also the beds in the front of my home were nothing but chick hens, and i've started to pull up and till for lupine seeds and billy buttons seeds, what i wanted to plant late fall early winter. My question is should i wait until the spring to mulch over that, would the mulch effect the seedlings from sprouting.

Weeds have really run a mock this year but i've loads of other seedlings i plan on fall / winter sowing like gayfeather my blue shrimp plant seeds are a few. I need the mulch no doubt about it but i also dont want to hender their growth if i mulch over them or around them or waited until spring and then mulched after they sprouted?

As you can see i'm lost and any guidance would be lovely. Also i'm trying to decide about the seedlings that are already sprouted.

Thanks, Scarlet

Comments (5)

morz8 - Washington Coast
9 years ago
Scarlett, heavy mulching and direct sowing don't mix. The mulch is going to prevent weed seeds from germinating, will feed and help to condition the soil, help prevent compaction in your beds with heavy fall and winter rains but its going to inhibit germination of desirable seeds you might sow too.

Its not going to smother aggressive or perennial weeds that have already taken hold - no way around it, you're going to need to pull those getting the roots out too so they don't resprout. There are a number of type weed seeds that will germinate in Fall and Winter here so mulch applied before Fall rains begin will cut down on your coming season chores, weeding.

It looks like we share our zone. What time of year you apply your mulch isn't as critical here (looking your post in the soils/compost forum)...ground doesn't really freeze to any depth in a normal winter. I will try to do my major cleanup and mulching in Spring but for a number of reasons this year I'm finishing up now. We're still restoring beds (year two in this location) and I've just now finished spreading 8 yards of purchased compost as a top dressing as my mulch for this year.....beds had been long neglected and were overrun run with alder, blackberry, ivy.

If you'll look above at FAQs, you'll see that the type of winter sowing done and discussed here is accomplished in pots or recycled containers outdoors in winter....most use recycled, while I use pots (have hundreds over many years). That would work for you with the seeds you would like to start - you could do your bed cleaning and mulching now. In Spring when you have seedlings and young plants, you can pull back the mulch in the areas you are working, plant your perennials from the containers they have germinated in, push the mulch back into place around them.

So, my shorter response is, get those weeds under control and your beds and its soil in shape - then concentrate on planting. There really is not a good way to both at the same time, and you'll benefit from doing the preliminary work first more than you can know. Soil and weeds first, permanent plantings later.
kaesgarden
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks so much morz8,

Everything you said completely just sits right them me. I feel like just when i get one bed cleared i'll turn around and wham, the other beds are already full. I've ripped out so many plants on this property, palms of some sort, Japanese tree's of some sort, so neglected. It's better to just start over with other plants. digging out stumps that have taken me from sun up to sun down. So i'll get the rest of my beds in working order and mulch over them.

I'm perfectly happy to start my seeds in a container then, only ones i may be worried about are the lupines because of the root system. Or would you still suggest starting them in a container. I've read so many different things.

A mulching here we go...

Scarlet
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morz8 - Washington Coast
9 years ago
The lupin should wintersow in containers just fine. Use something with 4-5" of soil depth and transplant when young and small and you shouldn't have any issues.
tiffy_z5_6_can
9 years ago
Scarlet,

Ditto everything morz8 wrote. :O) I just had the most beautiful bloom from a winter sown Lupine in the last week. Pink and red, Just gorgeous!

I still winter sow them even though they grow wild in the ditches here.

Winter sowing will be good for you to plan your new gardens. It will keep you reading, thinking and planning about the gardens in the winter.
kaesgarden
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks Tiffy,
I'm very excited to winter sow i think i have one bed only that i wont have to mulch from weeds, which was over taken from chick hens. I love how lupines look, i've purchased roughly 40 seeds that i plan to winter sow. I'm crossing my fingers for amazing-ness!

Mulching and winter sowing - aggressive weeds

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morz8 - Washington Coast

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Mulching and winter sowing - aggressive weeds

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