Better mulch??
Question:Which do you think is a bettter mulch for weed control, pine straw or cypress mulch? I know they make the weed control mats, and I have them down, but they were placed 2yrs ago. Now I have weeds, and I want them to stay gone longer than a few weeks. I have other flowers, shrubs and monkey grass so I can't spray a weed killer. What do u suggest?
Answers:
I have found, it's not so much what mulch, but how much mulch! Weed blockers break down over time, mulch laid over it decomposes and, if you do not continue to keep a heavy layer of your preferred mulch on top, weed seeds will germinate. Whatever you use, just use a lot of it to block out the sun. Try to use something that is from a sustainable source, pine bark or pine straw. I have read that cypress mulch use is starting to affect the cypress tree population, so I stay away from that.
Okay I went outside to check what was on our bags. We use weed inhibitor mulch by Shultz I think that's how its spelled. But its made of recycled wood with color stay technology
We use cypress. Pull weeds up by hand. there is a flower bed weed spray that will not harm your flowers.
I no this is not what one want's to hear but pick your weeds. Ive used stuff that says it wont harm your plants/ flowers but in the long run it does. sorry i no my answers is not any help.
roseanne has a good point.. a layer of mulch should be 3-4" deep for best results..
Pulling weeds is an unavoidble task in a garden.. plants are going to come up with or without mulch. Actually, too thin a layer of mulch just makes the conditions better for weeds. It controls the moisture in the soil, making it easier for the weed seeds to germinate. A thicker layer keeps the seeds from getting the light they need to grow more.
Between the 2, pine straw. I wish I could get it. But I use regular starw. I burn it in the Faqll and till the ashes under for next spring. Some folks put newpaper down before the straw it still lets moisture in. It will deteriorate and get burned and tilled under too.
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