Question From: B. Gardener - Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Q: Should I use different types of purchased mulch for muddy areas and for beds with more vegetation? (It’s spring now. Next fall I'll use leaves!) I need to go buy mulch for 2 reasons. First, I want to nourish and protect certain beds: the mostly bare area around our dogwood tree; the ground cover and some flowers around our lightpost; the areas where I have ivy, vinca and bushes; one patch where we lost ivy 2 winters ago; and a bed where I have a few plantings and want to encourage ground cover to return. Second, I hope to improve a couple areas that are very muddy. Water streams off the length of our back porch roof along one narrow bed. Also, the edge of the ivy bed seems to channel water from our downspout. I’m afraid mulch will just wash away from these watery areas. I see that I could buy shredded hardwood mulch, shredded hardwood bark mulch, and pine bark nuggets, as well as materials like straw. (I wouldn’t mind straw under the back porch roof if it would help.) Thanks for your advice.
A: Shredded products and pine needles will float away. Consider putting in a dry river bed of stones and pebbles to channel water away from muddy areas. Pine bark nuggets might be your best bet for mulch. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
