I have resisted applying mulch to my gardens because we have many maple trees that throw down millions of keys in the spring and leaves in the fall. Cleaning them up involves a lot of raking and blowing so I have been fearful that any mulch would get raked or blown away. We are having a new patio installed and the designer has suggested using CPM to mulch aound the shrubs and new plantings for nourishment and to keep the new soil (triple mix) from drying out & blowing away. (We do have in-ground irrigation so drying out in the growing season isn't a problem) . Any suggestions or advice?
I would recommend applying mulch to your gardens, especially since the leaves have been raked up and discarded (?) instead of returning nutrients to the soil. Applying mulch would add nutrients and help to retain moisture why not keep the maple leaves? If they are chopped up into smaller pieces the likelihood of matting is reduced.
I decided to forego it as the designer said that it would cut down weeds,(not a problem), fertilize (I do that anyway) and reduce the need to water (I have an irrigation system) They told me that the triple-mix that they used would most likely pack down but that isn't a problem either as I am an assiduous gardener and cultivate when I'm weeding.
That's great! I have a lot of garden space to amend and have plenty of pine needles that have been self composting, so that's what I've been doing yesterday and I guess earlier, but more with a passion as I get weeds in areas that haven't been as well cultivated and is hard to pull out the weeds. Some of it is the grass with strong runners. Ick! This is only in certain areas that have needed some attention. Such as Round up!
