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Carolina Gardening Soil, Compost & Mulch garden

What to do with old mulch in a future flower garden?

5 months ago

Hi all! I am an extremely amateur gardener. We recently moved into a home after renting for several years and I finally have space for a cut flower garden. There is currently a bare, mulched (I guess considered "organic" mulch? Not rubber, etc.) area in the front yard where I'd like to put the garden. This location looks like it was somewhat maintained but nothing really growing there when we moved in early September. I don't know how old the mulch is or what else that area was used for. Upon digging, I found out there is actually also some landscape material under the mulch.

I am assuming I want to remove all of this before starting my flowers from seed, but I am seeing mixed advice online for what to do with the mulch that is there. Some sources say it's fine to leave and "mix in" to the soil. Other things say if there were any diseased plants nearby it could spread disease to whatever is planted there and it'll all fail. There's also a zillion acorns mixed into the mulch.

So if I am planning to work compost into the soil and start from seed - would it be wise to remove all mulch and landscaping fabric and dispose of it? OR do I "mix in" the old mulch and plant seeds into it? OR should I remove the mulch and repurpose it somewhere else in the yard?

Featured Answer

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

5 months ago

The mulch is no problem but the fabric is. You’re going to have to rake the mulch away and pull up the fabric. Then you can incorporate the mulch in the new bed. Dump the fabric.

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Comments (10)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 months ago
Was going to say the exact same thing as floral: get rid of the landscape fabric but absolutely NO reason to remove any existing mulch!! Just work it into the soil as you prepare the bed.
Kate D. thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
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callirhoe123
5 months ago
Me, too. Ditch the fabric and work the mulch into the soil.
Kate D. thanked callirhoe123
rifis (zone 6b-7a NJ)
4 months ago
“Get rid of the landscape fabric”, they said, while sipping martinis on the patio, under the swaying palm trees.

It’s possible that will not be difficult.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 months ago
No palm trees or Martinis on my allotment where I removed fabric with fruit bushes established in it. Yes, it’s hard, but it is worth it. It looks as if the OPs fabric is only covered in loose mulch, not ten years worth of soil and roots.
HighColdDesert
4 months ago
I'm also of the opinion that the natural mulch material is good stuff and should be kept in place as much as possible, but that weed fabric should be removed if possible.
armoured
4 months ago
I am in favour of all landscape fabric being removed.

Just so long as Someone Else is doing it.
HU-162146441
4 months ago
No way to know if the compost has been sitting there long enough to be turned into the soil wiithout robbing the soil of Nitrogen.

If its pine bark it might be many years. Woodchips, ( in my climate) at least 3-4 years. It’s bound to be still good as mulch.You can top it with new mulch for appearances sake.

Controversial advice around here, but for a brand new place you don’t have the history of, it might be wise to get a soil test from Land Grant U. Underneath the mulch.. You don’t have to use your own state’s U. I used Umass.

Maybe $35. It’s a good bet you’ll save at least half that much in the ferts you don’t have to buy.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 months ago
Compost does not "rob" the soil of nitrogen! And incorporating a wood based mulch into the soil will have minimal effect in this regard as well and can easily be offset by adding a source of N, like alfalfa or cottonseed meal or blood meal.

If you have concerns about this, you will likely need to rake the mulch off to get to the landscape fabric anyway. Just save for reuse after planting.
toxcrusadr
4 months ago
That's what I was thinking, just set it aside, and reuse as mulch. If you want prettier mulch, just put something you like on top to cover it up. Or use it somewhere else in the yard.

That's what I would do.

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