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Square Foot Gardening

Mulch for beds

16 years ago

Okay, I did a search of the forums but still couldn't find a definitive answer. I have a couple of bags of shredded pine mulch that I am considering putting around my plants for moisture control. Last year between not being able to keep enough water on the plants and the critters, my garden was ravished and I finally threw up my hands in defeat.

Is pine bark too acidic? If it is, what are some other options? I tried straw last year with my strawberries, and that was a nightmare - my whole box was invaded by grass.

Thanks,

Rachel

Here is a link that might be useful: Look Ma No Weeds

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Comments (4)

Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
16 years ago
Go for it. Any tiny increase in pH is temporary and not worth worrying about.

Dan
sfg_ratatosk
16 years ago
Oh no! I just put straw in my beds. I thought it was SUCH a good idea! Oh well, I'll just have to watch out for the weeds. Sigh.
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junequilt
16 years ago
You may be okay if what you're using is actually straw. The wheat and oat straw I use have few to no weed seeds. Every once in a while a stray plant will germinate from a kernel of wheat that didn't get threshed out in processing, but that's about it.

Hay, now -- that's a different story. Oodles of weed seeds.
rlkennerly
Original Author
16 years ago
Yeah, I misspoke. I stupidly used hay not straw, and the results were not pretty. Sorry to alarm you, ratatosk.

Rachel

Here is a link that might be useful: LookMaNoWeeds

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