A highly ridiculous mulch question...

Ok - this is utterly ridiculous - you have been warned.

I love the look of mulch - specifically black mulch, the colors of flowers and greens seem to pop with it.

When do I put mulch down? Can I plant my flowers after i put it down or do I have to do it beforehand? If it goes down before the flowers, do I just plant as normal?


Please guide me with this!

Message edited 4/11/2011 8:37:25 AM.

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

ok so I had no idea either!! But according to my dad you can put mulch down and any spring flowers will just pop through if they aren't up already and then you can also just plant flowers like you would normally plant them.

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

you can put mulch down at any point but it is always better to do once your planting is gone (you will lose some when diggimg for plants) & then you will have to fill in again

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

You can mulch at any time of the year. People do it usually in the Spring to spruce it their garden bed.

You can mulch before or after you mulch. Just be careful not to damage your existing plant went putting mulch down. If you want to plant after you have mulched, use a trowel or a shovel.

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

I would do it after..

I think that f you do it before and then go to plant, the mulch itself is a good few inches above the actual soil, so it's going to make planting a pain..

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

I do it in the spring and in the fall.
I don't really think think any one time is better than another unless you 'garden by the stars'.

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

If you put down mulch spend the extra money and get rubber - the color lasts for years and you will not get termites

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

I usually put it down mid may before I put in the annuals. I get kinda sloppy when I put it in because I"m exhausted at that point, I can't be bothered making sure I don't cover the plants with mulch. That's for the small cell packs though. If I plan on putting in bigger plants then I mulch after I plant them so the soil doesn't mix in with the mulch and look ugly.

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

Ok - so talk me through it.

I buy flats of flowers(I get them through my school at the plant sale - cheaper than a nursery), THEN put the mulch down, THEN plant the flowers?

Believe it or not, I have a master's degree, but I can't figure this out.

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

Posted by scarletbegonia

Ok - so talk me through it.

I buy flats of flowers(I get them through my school at the plant sale - cheaper than a nursery), THEN put the mulch down, THEN plant the flowers?

Believe it or not, I have a master's degree, but I can't figure this out.

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

Posted by scarletbegonia

Ok - so talk me through it.

I buy flats of flowers(I get them through my school at the plant sale - cheaper than a nursery), THEN put the mulch down, THEN plant the flowers?

Believe it or not, I have a master's degree, but I can't figure this out.

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

I put down my mulch about 2 weeks ago. This past weekend and next weekend plants go in.

In mid summer I may add some plants.
Late september I add more mulch.


Maybe I should point out that I use organic home made mulch, not store bought.

Re: A highly ridiculous mulch question...

I love the look of mulch too since it covers the dirt. I plant first, and then put the mulch down.