Oh no, what a disheartening mess to deal with.I would think the leaf compost would hold better.I put the dark mulch around my strawberry bed, and some of the stains do rub off your hands. But I put alyssum as a ground cover for beneath my peas.
Tammy

Alyssum makes a great living mulch. It's pretty, has a nice fragrance and keeps the weeds down. I used it in two garden areas last year and was amazed at the results. The few weeds that made it through the alyssum pulled right out. No trowel needed :)

Tammy- What color did you use under your peas? I like lavender under broccoli, cabbage, peas, and beans. I usually plant white under the tomatoes and squash...probably because I like the white with the marigolds and nasturtiums, but the lavender is pretty with zinnias and stock. I love mixing in flowers with the vegetables and I had lots of beneficial insects last year!

I think it was Royal Carpet. Purple. I have white waiting to put out around the tomatoes when I get them in the ground. Guess I am heading in the right direction. My blog shows what I put out so far and where.
Tammy

I have not used leaf compost but I generally prefer to mulch with compost. It looks nicer to me. This year we tried no-float cypress in part of our yard. I liked the smell but did not care for the appearance. For some areas we will be trying pecan shell mulch, but I worry about it's stability in the wind. If I had access to leaf, I would use it in a heartbeat.

tishtoshnm, I had never considered compost as mulch, but even my daughter commented on how much she liked the darknes of the aged horse manure on top of the ground. I have been using a lot to mix in with my soil since its such hard clay in places. Its loose and crumbly so almost compost.And I know my plants are loving it. I see a huge difference in just a matter of a couple of weeks.
Tammy

Oh no. What a bummer. I use compost too. My pile never makes enough, so I have to buy it.
Renee

I've generally used compost (from bags) as a top layer of sorts. But I don't have that much space to cover. Plus in my area, the clay needs serious amending. For several years I have been digging it in with new plantings and then covering everything with a decent layer once or twice a year. I really enjoy the look of it especially when wet. It has the dark brown look. But I also don't have a wind problem. I've never really considered it to be primarily mulch, just adding necessary components to my soil.

Julie

Thanks everyone, for your ideas and suggestions. We don't have a compost pile (something that's in our future, I think) so we buy ours in bulk. So far so good with the leaf compost - everything is still in place and it looks nice too.

Lavander Lass and Tammy - do you sprinkle alyssum seed throughout the bed when you've finished planting your veggies, or do you use transplants? It sounds like a great idea.

Tishtoshnm - pecan shells sound interesting. I'm not familiar with that method of mulching.

Laura, this is my first time ever using alyssum. I sowed seed directly, and I also have some W/s seedlings I am going to put in.
Tammy

I had no idea alyssum could be used as a mulch! Now I want to try it under the tomatoes... thanks for the tip!

We have that coconut shell mulch but haven't tried it yet. It looks pretty in the bag though!

Lulabelle, I don't think it is well know but New Mexico produces a large amount of pecans. I believe that we periodically alternate with Georgia as the top producers in the country. The broken shells were once just thrown away but somebody wised up and it is now sold as mulch. It has a lovely brownish, reddish appearance. If I get some in place this year I will post some pics for those who are interested.

I always say I'm going to use seed (and I do add some) but I can't resist the little transplants at the store. I seem to pick up a couple of six packs of lavender alyssum every time I go to the garden center :)

the alyssum i winter sown is growing nicely. the gold dust was about 3" when I planted it out. The alyssum I direct sown where my peas are planted, are already showing a few tiny leaves here and there.
Tammy

Well, if it makes you feel any better I've had mulch mishaps too! I tried to cover my potager's paths with straw last year. It didn't work to control weeds and attracted no-seeums that bit my ankles like crazy.

So this weekend I tried cardboard and playground mulch (pine wood chips). After shoveling 2 cubic tons of it, and putting some right up against the house - of course only then do I read online that pine mulch will attract termites so you should never put it up against the house. *sigh*

At least it was only one small path up against the house that I'll have to shovel back out. I hope nothing else goes wrong with these paths!

I'm sowing alyssum seeds this weekend. Really great idea! Thank you.

Aubade - sorry to hear about your mulching mishaps. Live and learn. There's lots of that going on in my garden :)

What did you decide to use in place of the pine wood chips?