Mulching to retain moisture & suppress weeds

TheClaw · April 18, 2010

Last year I used red mulch, and it was a mess, with the red dye leeching out so I will definitely not be using that stuff again.

My containers range from 5 to 20 gallons and are not SWC's (yet), and I use Miracle-Gro Potting Mix (not moisture control).

Can anyone recommend either pine bark (shredded or nuggets), or shredded hardwood, or even newspaper, or something else?

Thanks!

The Claw

easttx_hippie · April 18, 2010

I like to use 6-8 layers of newspaper to cover the potting mix/soil. I give that a good soaking and then pile on a few inches of shredded leaves that I keep piled up near my garden. It holds in the water quite well and helps in my war on weeds. I've had to pull a couple of weeds every week or so since I started using this plan of attack. Before that I was watering and pulling weeds daily....and sometimes it was like an endless battle against the weeds. At times they seemed to grow back at one end of the garden before I could get to the other end.....and the other end was only ten feet away.

Suze · April 18, 2010

I like to put something down in the way of mulch for my containers, and lots of it. As with any other mulching you'd do elsewhere in the garden, leave a bit of a gap next to the stem. Shredded b&w newsprint works well, but does need to be wet down well immediately after applying, or it will blow away.

Avoid glossy paper as metals and chemicals that you might not care to have in your garden are frequently used to achieve that effect. Colored newsprint is fine if you know the dye used was soy based. Much of it is these days.

Other personal preferences include wheat straw or shredded leaves.

riceke · April 19, 2010

I use wheat straw for a mulch in potted plants. Keeps the top cool but allows air flow. As it decomposes it adds fertility to the soil.

April 18, 2010	#1
TheClaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 183	Mulching to retain moisture & suppress weeds Last year I used red mulch, and it was a mess, with the red dye leeching out so I will definitely not be using that stuff again. My containers range from 5 to 20 gallons and are not SWC's (yet), and I use Miracle-Gro Potting Mix (not moisture control). Can anyone recommend either pine bark (shredded or nuggets), or shredded hardwood, or even newspaper, or something else? Thanks! The Claw

April 18, 2010	#2
easttx_hippie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Piney Wood Hills Posts: 423	A mulching we will go I like to use 6-8 layers of newspaper to cover the potting mix/soil. I give that a good soaking and then pile on a few inches of shredded leaves that I keep piled up near my garden. It holds in the water quite well and helps in my war on weeds. I've had to pull a couple of weeds every week or so since I started using this plan of attack. Before that I was watering and pulling weeds daily....and sometimes it was like an endless battle against the weeds. At times they seemed to grow back at one end of the garden before I could get to the other end.....and the other end was only ten feet away.

April 19, 2010	#4
riceke Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Snellville, GA Posts: 346	I use wheat straw for a mulch in potted plants. Keeps the top cool but allows air flow. As it decomposes it adds fertility to the soil. __________________ *Ken*

April 18, 2010	#3
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	I like to put something down in the way of mulch for my containers, and lots of it. As with any other mulching you'd do elsewhere in the garden, leave a bit of a gap next to the stem. Shredded b&w newsprint works well, but does need to be wet down well immediately after applying, or it will blow away. Avoid glossy paper as metals and chemicals that you might not care to have in your garden are frequently used to achieve that effect. Colored newsprint is fine if you know the dye used was soy based. Much of it is these days. Other personal preferences include wheat straw or shredded leaves.