If it were me, I don't think I would mulch. I'm not a big mulcher, lol. If I did mulch, I would probably just use compost or maybe a layer of shredded leaves. How big is the bed and how much of it is bare right now? Can you live with that bare area until the periwinkle grows in?

:)
Dee

Hi Dee:

Thanks for your reply. My only concern about not mulching is controlling the weeds and little treelets that pop up.

The area is pretty large and has periwinkle planted all over it (new plantings - it hasn't "filled in" yet). If I didn't mulch I would be saving myself a lot of expense and work but I just don't want to make things worse for myself later by ending up with a bed of weeds. Hopefully the periwinkle will fill in on its own and block out the weeds.

Do you have access to leaves this time of year? (You know, piled in the back of the yard somewhere?) If so, try shredding them up and using them as mulch. It would be free, and help the soil in the bed also. I don't really love the look of it myself, but I do use them because it works well.

Good luck!
:)
Dee

A light mulch won't hurt your new plants but honestly you'll still have weeds/tree seedlings. The mulch will just make them a little easier to pull out. For the first couple of years a newly planted groundcover needs weeding and then every year thereafter you'll have a drastic reduction but still a few. Even with no Oak trees in our yard we still had Oak seedlings thanks to squirrels...and I soon learned not to feed the little darlin's Pecans...LOL Good luck. josh