Aerate, Add Compost, Re-mulch

19 years ago

Hi All,

Thanks for your advice. Somethings that i didn't understand.

When you say keep your Azalea's deadheaded --> What does this mean? and also how should i prune my Azalea's? I mean how much should i cut the tips off after the blooming is over.

I aerated all my flower beds 2 weeks back. But didn't find time to re-mulch again. I also studied that it is good to add COMPOST and then re-mulch again.Also, i didn't remove the mulch from previous year when i aerated and it just got mixed up with the soil. So, is this fine?

Can any one suggest any kind of COMPOST that i can mix in the soil?

Also, do i need to add more soil to my flower beds again? If yes, then what type is good - Planting soil, Garde soil?

Any suggestions on what kind of mulch is good for Houston, TX area? Should i change the mulch again this year? Should i aerate the flower beds again?

Thanks a lot

Pavani

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Comments (3)

denisew
19 years ago
I don't grow azaleas, so others will need to help you with that. I can help you with your soil questions.

Yes, it isokay to put compost right over the old mulch, then new mulch over that. The compost will actually help aerate the soil since it will bring the earthworms up to feed on it and create little tunnels in the soil - nature's best aerators. Kind of compost? - rich, black, with small pieces of decaying wood is just fine. I get mine from our city for free, so don't ever buy it. I don't think you will need to add more soil to existing beds - just adding the compost and mulch should be enough. As far as type of mulch - one that doesn't wash away in a rainstorm would be good. Cypress is good for this since the pieces tend to interconnect and hold in place pretty well, while still allowing water to percolate into the soil. Just put the new mulch right over the old mulch. The old mulch will break down to help feed your plants.
parupudi
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you so much denisew. You said the city gives you free compost and/or mulch. I live in Katy in Texas. Do you know how i can get these from the city for free?
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MrsBox77
19 years ago
Dead head means to pull the dead flowers off the branches so more will bloom. Trim your azalaes back to the size you want them to be, unless you would trim off more than 1/3. You don't have to trim them at all if you dont want to. The reason you wait till after they bloom to trim, and don't trim them (or feed them) after July 15th is so they will bloom the next time. I am currently getting my second blooming on my encores....been deadheading for the last week or so. They were awesome this year.

Funnily enough, my mulch becomes part of the soil...I never change it out...it disentegrates into the soil and then I need to add more for looks mostly. By the time I need new mulch (to make it look pretty - the family comes to my house of Thanksgiving every year) hubby has turned the soil for me and mixed the old mulch in. 7 years ago, my large front bed was about 1/3 sawdust from the old owner using it as filler to incorrectly raise the bed to sell the house. All I have done is added mulch. I was digging in it yesterday and the soil is now awesome..I think from all the mulch and worms, etc and time. My mulch guy comes around this time of year, and right before Thanksgiving. Plus he leaves some for us so we can refresh as needed.