I grow blueberry in containers. My garden soil is very alkaline when I tested it it was 8-9. The Blueberry never done any good in this kind of soil. In containers I can control the Acidity to 5-5.50. The blueberry loves this kind of acidity. I use 10, 15, and 20 gallons containers. I put holes in the bottom and the lower sides of the containers to give the roots chance to travel in the garden soil if they choose. More importantly is the drainage because the earth is the best drainage you could ever have. Some one said when you put holes in the container and plant the container into earth the water thinks the container is far bigger than what it is and keep travelling down. Something has to do with the Capillary movement which is beyond my expertise.

From Heavinsent "After laying all the paper I see that I will have to weed by hand the small gaps around the plants that couldnt be covered (I left about 1/2 an inch to allow for growth)" A little tip from experience. That little area you have to keep clear can be a problem. But if you let the weeds that come up there get tall, then bend them flat Away From the plant, you can cover them with mulch without "weeding" them. Wayne, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to flag you a 15-yard penalty for "Putting words in my mouth," repeatedlly. "You misread or missed my point entirely." I've always found it interesting that people often seem to accuse others of the very thing they do themselves? "I used newspaper as a tool but the roots of bindweed will outlast the useful life of a newspaper mulch." So you add new papers! Mulching is a permanent thing, a "way of life," so you just keep adding new mulch year after year. The bindweed will eventually simply run out of food, and roots and all will die. People have told me they got rid of poison ivy and oak with this method. Bindweed can't be much tougher than those? "The closely spaced plants I mentioned are impossible to "mold" wet newspaper around as you recommend." Well, then use only grass clippings right next to your plants. And see what I wrote to H.S. above. "Mulching does not "permanently eliminate" weeding in these areas. Some pulling is required." Well, then can you explain why the ONLY weeds I've pulled in 34 years are dandelions in my lawn? If you keep doing it, mulching Does permanently eliminate weeding. "In my area, a permanent mulch must be raked off the raised beds early if the soil is to thaw and warm up enough for spring planting. I learned this year that peppers and eggplants can't be mulched too early without cooling the soil and slowing their growth." I've read this before, many times, and it may, I say may, have some merit. But I would like to see someone do an experiment, pull the mulch aside on some plants, but leave it around others of the same kind. I wonder if the mulch keeps the soil warmer enough that things will grow just as well without clearing the area in the spring? I've tried removing the mulch and even putting black plastic down, but it seemed to make little difference. And yes I know I have a very farorable climate. "You've been touting the "no-work" claims of mulching in numerous threads here and admire your tenacity, but I don't think you are looking beyond your own garden gate." Wayne, a simple thing I could say here is, "I wasn't talking to you." I've gotten comments like yours before, on another board. And I've asked them if they can tell me how to talk to ONLY the people that might benefit from mulching, I'd be happy to hear it? Since these are public forums, people post what they believe or have learned from experience. Anyone who can benefit from it, should. Anyone who can't, or doesn't want to, can simply ignore it. My remarks are not directed at any specific person. "But unless they garden in a manner similar to your own very limited set of conditions..." I hardly think that gardeners coast to coast constitute a "very limited set of conditions." I've had gardeners in New Jersey, Alabama. Tennesse, Michigan, the Southwest, as well as right here in California wrtie to tell me they can't beLIEVE the difference mulching has made in their gardens. To me, Wayne, it sounds like you don't want other people to try this? If you think there are problems with it, that's no problem whatever. But you seem to want to stop me from even talking about it? "There is no "no-work" method" Again putting words in my mouth. I never wrote this. Are you familiar with the political tactic called "Setting up straw men?" Everyone has known someone in their lives, out here in the non-cbyer world, that they know they will just never see eye-to-eye with. I already have that feeling about you, Wayne. So a simple suggestion: Ignore my posts. Or don't you give other people enough credit to judge for themselves if what I say works or is nonsense? I was incredibly fortunuate many years ago to learn of the mulch method of gardening, and all its incredible benefits. All I want to do is pass on my good luck to other gardeners. Tyrell

I grow Ozark Beauty and Cardinals. Both make huge, sweet berries. I get a 2nd lighter fall crop some years. Wonderful to have berries in September. Weird thing - they did not go completely dormant this winter. They just continued to grow and multiply! I don't use hay - I use pine straw (dried pine needles) for mulch around my strawberries. They are natural companions. The pine needles actualy improve the taste of the berries. I put the pine straw on the paths too. It keep slugs away. They do not like to get poked by the pine needles. Toss in some pinecones, too, to keep out the cats! In the South you can buy bales of Pine Straw. I wish we could here. It is the best mulch for Azaleas and other acid-loving plants and trees. It is great mulch for blackberries too. It doesn't wash or float away like the pine bark or chip mulch does. The best thing for getting rid of rolly pollies (pill bugs or sow bugs) is a good old Horned Toad. They eat ants, even fire ants and nasty old pill bugs. Too bad farmers used insecticides and killed them off. Their are not extinct, but darn near. Maybe I could import me a few from someplace. I don't use pesticides. I am getting some guineas soon. Wonder if they will eat sow bugs? Does anyone know? Annie

yep yep. They are tasty. I just went up to my parents farm and dug up 6 of the healthiest looking plants from along the road. There were literally hundreds in this 10'x20' area. They've been there longer than I've been alive I am going to try and propagate indoors over winter and plant in a raised bed built against the back of my house this spring. My mom did the same thing when I was about 10y/0, but ended up tilling them under after a couple of years. While they were prolific reproducers and producers of the best berries you'll ever eat the fruits are extremely small,about dime sized or smaller, and it takes forever to pick a meaningful amount. They're much better as a ground cover that produces tasty treats. If only they could produce a strawberry plant with large fruits and that good of taste.