Gardening Strategy: No Mulch, Just Groundcover
I absolutely love this season! With this perfect weather, it’s almost a pleasure to do the limited weeding that’s ahead. I say, “limited,” because with the strategy of NO MULCH, JUST GROUNDCOVER, I have very little weeding to do. By planting Vinca minor or periwinkle in all of my garden beds, I’ve eliminated the mulching that I had been doing for over 30 years. All of my bulbs and perennials come up through it and the groundcover keeps in the moisture, preventing roots from drying out, even in the heat of summer. If you aren’t already doing this, you may want to give it a try – maybe only in a small portion of your garden, as a test patch.
Hatboro’s GARDENERS OF THE CROOKED BILLET will be having its next meeting Thursday, April 12 at 7 PM. We meet in the Social Hall of the Church of the Advent, 12 Byberry Road, Hatboro. (Use the Rorer Avenue entrance, parking behind Hatboro Federal Savings Bank.) All interested gardeners are invited – from beginners to the experienced! The topic is “What I’ve Learned From My Garden,” followed by light refreshments. I hope to meet you there!
You can check out our Crooked Billet website http://www.pitrone.com/gardeners.html to see what our club is all about and read my latest newsletter with current events and activities. To go directly to the newsletter, click http://www.pitrone.com/aprilnews0412.pdf.
Garden Tips for this Month:
- Some of the plants that may be divided now are primrose, bleeding hearts, asters, primrose, iris, daylilies, and chrysogonum. This is best done before they get too large, avoiding excessive wilting or death.
- To make plants bushier, cut back beautyberry, roses, St. John’s Wort, buddleia, and caryopteris in late March, early April.
- Remove “weeds” (any plants that you do not want growing where they appear) as soon as you see them. One man’s weeds are another’s valued garden addition!
Check out my latest garden paintings at http://BarbaraRosenzweig.etsy.com
Margaret
10:50 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
Hi Barbara! Would the Vinca minor work around my azalea beds as well?
Thanks,Margaret
Barbara Rosenzweig
11:06 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
Yes, Margaret, I have had the periwinkle (Vinca minor) growing around my azaleas for years. Every year or so, I pull out or push down any growth that starts to climb through the denser bushes. Happy Gardening!
New Concerned Neighbor
1:09 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Hello...how well do these types of plants live w/black walnut trees?
Barbara Rosenzweig
11:28 am on Friday, April 20, 2012
Great question! I don't have any personal experience with black walnut trees, but I've read that periwinkle is one of the plants that can be grown there. Check out the link below for more suggestions.
http://voices.yahoo.com/gardening-solutions-plant-under-5498483.html
Ballerina
1:20 pm on Sunday, April 22, 2012
I have the standard plantings around my house; boxwoods, peonies, grasses, lavender etc all surrounded by fabric and covered with black mulch. I haven't mulch since 2010 and am due but I want to quit mulch. How can I convert to a wildflower/groundcover/mulch free property? Do I remove the fabric? I live in Dutchess co. NY. Cold winters, hot summers...
Barbara Rosenzweig
12:30 am on Monday, April 23, 2012
Hi Ballerina,
I haven't ever used the fabric in my garden, but have seen weed seedlings grow in neighbors' mulch who used it. Nothing is totally maintenance/cost-free. If you have the energy and desire, you can lift off the fabric, depending how deep it is. An alternative is to punch holes in the fabric where you want to plant your groundcover.
Either way, you may want to do only a section at a time, depending on the size of your gardens. I pull my periwinkle from one area where it is already growing, gather 4 or 5 rooted stems together and plant them in one hole. That way, at least one of the stems will usually root and, if you are lucky, more will to fill in quickly.
If you don't already have a handy source (friends/neighbors with more than enough), the nurseries have plentiful supplies.
Although I have been working at this for years, I can see a big difference from year to year. When I want to add a perennial, I just dig right into the groundcover and put it in, watering well for a few days. You will still need to keep the groundcover in the bed by pulling the "wanderers" from time to time. But the payoff for me is that it is evergreen, has delightful purple flowers, keeps the moisture in, and prevents most weeds from invading.
Please let me know what you decide and how you do with your plantings.