Before there was mulch....

[Miss Mary]

Have you ever wondered what people did before mulch? Or how this craze started?

I've asked my mom how she kept weeds in control 25+ years ago. Some people were into rocks but she wasn't. She said she just kept the weeds in control - in other words she had nothing but bare dirt around shrubs and flowers. I remember my aunt was into white-white rocks. All over the landscaped areas. My mom would mutter under her breath each time we'd visit......so funny. I remember thinking, oh cool, can I play in the rocks (I was about 10 then)? Of course, no playing was allowed in these areas. Totally off subject, another aunt had her couch covered in plastic and had plastic runners all over the house, to and from rooms. That carpet and upholstery was never touched by human hands or feet!

Back to dirt......we visited Canada twice in the early 90s, back to back summers. They go nuts up there with annuals! But no mulch! They rake the dirt around shrubs very finely, looks almost pebbly. But again no mulch. I decided since their growing season is only 2 months long, weeds probably can't take hold for long.

Our next door neighbor growing up ringed every tree, shrub with a square of concrete curbing her husband installed. My dad would watch all of this activity and shake his head. I swear she had about 7 or so areas like this in the backyard. Bushes by themselves, but with that concrete around it. It was her way of making the grass cutting easier I guess. When they were all done, she had the bright idea of painting the concrete green to match the grass. That's when my dad said he just had to not look over there anymore. Maybe that's why mom just worked her tail off keeping weeds in control? he he I like the natural look too but mulch sure has taken over in suburbia now.

Thoughts anyone?

[breeze]

Dead grass! Pile it up after mowing the lawn, let it get
brown and crunchy, and, apply it around other plants -
works for a while, anyway! Especially good around
strawberries, tho, we used those trusty bags of hardwood
mulch from Lowe's......

Then, of course, there's folks who have time to
pluck every little blade of grass - kinda like Zen therapy!

[deb_in_nc]

I don't remember a whole lot about what people used as mulch. Grandma didn't use anything.It's not unusual for me to use 35 bags for 1 bed. I like to make sure I have 3-4".

Debbie

[Stephanie]

I can't remember what my parents used either - I really don't think anything was used! I just remember I was the weeder!

As for the concrete boarders - it's a mixed bessing. It cuts down on the amount of lawn that you need to mow, but it makes it harder to mow too! It's better to have the shrubs and plants environmentally but then you do have the weeding and all of the mulching. Marty made me swear not to put concrete borders (even pavers) around the new maple and pin oak trees we put out front last year because of the mowing. Someday I'll make my island paradise though when the grass finally dies due to too much shade from those tress....

[deb_in_nc]

Steph, I hate to tell you this but I had a Maple tree in NC and the roots ended up coming above ground.
Made it hard to plant anything.Don't know if you have a varity that won't do that.I was told that if you add dirt over the top of the roots, you would suffocate the roots.You might have to resort to ornamental pots of some kind.
Debbie

[Miss Mary]

Guess I should have clarified the concrete borders....our former neighbor, circa 1970s, poured the concrete himself. Randomly. This tree had 6 inch wide borders/curb, that tree had 4 inch. Just drove my dad nuts - they looked very amatuerish. Now FF to 2003 and the prepoured concrete edging or borders look quite professional. Have nothing wrong with that.

Trees.....I've always heard you shouldn't have mulch touch the trunk. So I pull/rake all mulch away at least 4 or 5 inches, and actually have a small well there, mounding the mulch up a bit and then down to the grass. My tree cirlcles/mulched areas should be bigger now since they've grown so much in 13+ years, but that would entail digging up a lot of grass. And needing more mulch in the end. Maybe since putting too much mulch on top of roots isn't a good thing, my circles are just fine. The roots probably breathe easier thru the grass.

[Cyclone]

You know.. I have to say that I don't use mulch to prevent weeds and personally I think it's a little overated, but I do use it however because of the look, and the smell; the pine mulch! yeah, beautiful. Back in my old town of London, England we never use mulch, I have never seen it before until I came out here and thought "that some weird looing soil" lol! You know what I have in my back yard?? You know those trees that drop those funky helicopters in the spring?? lol Well if you don't clear them up about a week after they've fallen, they start growing little trees all over the 'ruddy place!! lol They grow especially well in Mulch!! Not Soil!! Drives me insane!! lolol

Have a good day!

[breeze]

Yikes, Cyclone! LoL - maple seeds! PLEASE don't show me
another one! :o I have plucked them, vigorously, for
nearly a month, from every bed of flowers, and, they are
STILL coming up! I want to send them all to Vermont to
help with the maple syrup demand.....

[Stephanie]

Yes Deb, they do have shallow roots so I know in time that no longer will I be able to have grass around them, there won't be any plants either! It's planted though far enough away from the stoop and driveway so I won't have to worry about them lifting the concrete either. Then again, by the time it does that, I'll probably be long gone!

Mulch is also good to help conserve moisture and protect the roots of plants and many of us know that have just been through or are currently in a drought.

[Miss Mary]

Hey all - I am still picking up Sweet Gum Maple pods and have been doing since winter! There were days I'd have to pick up 100 since they hurt my dog's paws. Now about 10-20 drop every few days, especially after a storm. I keep thinking, if only I knew of a great craft for these 500+ pods......ideas anyone? The pods are the round pokey balls (what we call them to the dog, who loves to munch on the them, just not walk on them) you often see in flower arrangements and crafts. I swear we never thought of these things dropping for 6 months. And now I see hundreds forming in the new green stages on these two trees. They look neat on the tree, like xmas ornaments. But a pain to always pick up.

[breeze]

Oh, Miss Mary, LOL, as kids, we used to throw them at each
other as weapons!