I am sorry you don't want to plant seedlings because I think that is the best way to go. Al

Yeah? Hmmm. Thanks for the response - now I'm rethinking not planting seedlings.

Part of my problem with seedlings is laziness. I'd like to plant the alyssum over the blank spaces in a few hundred square feet of bed, and that's a fair bit of space to crawl around in planting seedlings

But the other part is my experience with nursery sixpacks of alyssum. Last year, I planted both sixpacks and seeds. The alyssum from the sixpacks sat in slowly spreading little clumps, looking very artificial. The alyssum that I direct seeded last year (without mulching) made a lovely natural-looking space-filling froth that I'd like to duplicate this year.

It belatedly occurs to me that this may have nothing to do with transplanting, but instead may be due to the type of alyssum, or due to the nursery pushing their alyssum to bloom prematurely, or something of that sort. (The sixpack seedlings weren't visibly rootbound, so I don't think it was that.) So, yeah, maybe I should give transplanting a try after all.

Burnet

I believe alyssum needs sunlight to germinate, so you could try sprinkling the seeds on top of the mulch. It's extremely easy (and much cheaper) to start from seed, so I'd try that first.

Barbi

Last year, seed from my neighbor's alyssum blew into my flower bed and was a living mulch! Very pretty.

I'm with Barbi....I'd sow them on top of the mulch. They grow so easy that way. They grow easily from transplants too but if your house is anything like mine, indoor seed sprouting space is at a premium. I'd rather not waste any of it on something that grows so readily from direct sowing.

Michelle

Burnet, I'd like to know whether sowing over mulch worked, because I'm about to try it myself. Don't really have much choice; I already spread the mulch. Just would like to know what to expect. I got way too many seeds anyways... Thanks!

Hi everyone. Resurrecting this old thread as I am tempted to sprinkle alyssum seeds in some of my beds. Will it work on top of the mulch?

you say you are mulching with compost ....

no

you are improving the soil with compost...

compost is not a mulch ...

you MIGHT end up with problems.. if you dont understand the difference.. or you might not.. lol ..

anyway ... alyssum transplants easily .. especially on a rainy day ...

sow your seeds in some left over flats ... and when they get to a decent little size ... transplant them into your beds ...

ken

Thanks, everyone for your answers and ideas. The ground I have is lumpy and clumpy, so I wanted to spread the bark over those areas to make it look even and the alyssum will be a ground cover for my lawn. In following the advice given, I'll sew the seeds on top on the bark and keep them well watered until they sprout and I can see that they have started to grow.

BTW, I bought the seeds from Walmart online. I got 40,000 seeds of white "Carpet of Snow" for $9.95, and 5,000 seeds of purple "Oriental Nights" for $4.95. I'll use those as a border. Sure beats the price of packaged seeds!

i live in the dunes at the BeachI I want to plant alysium seeds around our trampoline. Do i need to mix soil w the mulch before planting the seeds? thank you for guifance and tips!