Using Mulch in Your Garden

This is probably a good time to talk about using mulch in your garden. First, it may be a good time, because by late August, your probably getting sick of pulling weeds about now. Secondly, if you already had mulch, Tropical Storm Fay probably just washed it all away and you're thinking about replacing it.

Mulch serves several very important functions and is almost always a good idea.

1. It slows down weeds! Nothing stops them in Florida, but you need to use every weapon at your disposal to give yourself an edge.
2. It helps retain moisture. O.K. that's not an issue right now, but in a few months it will be.
3. It helps regulate soil temperature.
   
4. It helps prevent disease. Mulch stops soil from splashing up on the lower leaves of a plant, which helps stop the spread of some fungus diseases.
5. Mulch beautifies the garden, giving it a neater, more finished look.

There are many choices when deciding on a mulch. There are organic mulches, like wood chips and pine needles, etc. and there are inorganic mulches like rocks. In general, organic mulches are better for the soil and are less expensive (at least in the short run). As they decompose, they enrich and become part of the soil. Inorganic mulches are more expensive on the front end, but more permanent. Individual taste will determine which looks better.

If you decide on an organic mulch, most people in South Florida use shredded wood mulch. The two most common are cypress mulch and dyed, recycled wood. The cypress has a beautiful, natural look and smell and will usually last about 6 months, although the color will fade to kind of a gray color after 2 or 3 months. The recycled mulch is made from used lumber and plywood, etc. and is usually dyed red, but sometimes can be gotten in gold, black or some other color. It doesn't look as natural. Some people like the look better than cypress, some don't. Again, its personal choice. It does retain its color much longer than cypress and lasts a little longer. Plus it has the benefit that it doesn't use up cypress trees, a disappearing resource. When red mulch is fresh, some of the dye does come off easily so plan on having red hands after you spread it (and a funny smell) and if it comes in contact with concrete driveways and sidewalks it will leave a stain that is sometimes hard to get off. Other common organic mulches are:

• Pine Bark Nuggets- they are beautiful but are very prone to floating away and seem to harbor carpenter ants.
• Wood chips - from tree trimmings. The biggest benefit-they are often available free. On the minus side, they decompose very fast and sometimes contain unwanted seeds.
• Pine Needles - Often called "pine straw". They decompose fast but give a beautiful natural look. They are especially useful in areas that already have pine trees. You can buy a few bales to mulch the beds initially and then rake the falling needles in to the beds regularly to replenish.

There are countless other possibilities from lawn clippings to peat moss, but these are the most common and practical for use in South Florida landscapes. Just a few more tips for using organic mulches:

• If buying cypress or recycled wood, look for wood that is shredded rather than chips. In other words look for long, fibrous looking pieces. They will interlock and form a solid mat after a few days that will be less likely to float away in rainy weather.
• Make mulch a minimum of 1 inch deep. 2 inches is better.
• Usually with organic mulch, it is better not to use any kind of weed mat underneath. The mulch seems to stay put better when it is in direct contact with the ground. Also, as the mulch decomposes it will form a layer of soil on top of the weed mat. That will allow weeds to start above the mat and then put roots down through it, making them that much harder to pull.

In the next post, I'll talk more about inorganic mulches.

Gardening with Air Plants

This is one of the arboreal bromeliads, often just called "air plants" They do best just hanging in a tree rather than planted in the soil. This is a Tillandsia bulbosa. There are hundreds of species of tillandsia (about 650 at last count), some of them native to Florida. The most common member of this family is probably Spanish Moss. But there are many others with large beautiful blooms. In any swampy area you will find them growing high in cypress trees with bright red flowers. Many make great landscape plants that will really give your garden that tropical rain forest feel. You'll usually find them for sale at plant sales and garden shows. Just wire them to a tree, in the shade of the canopy and they will usually attach themselves over time. They just live off whatever moisture and nutrients they get from the air soil they will appreciate a spritz with the hose occasionally, especially in the winter when the humidity is lower. If you think they need some fertilizer you can spray them with a weak solution of liquid plant food like Miracle Grow.

Year Round Color with Bromeliads

If you appreciate tropical style landscaping, one of the best ways to achieve an authentic tropical look is with bromeliads. As a group they are amazingly versatile and can provide year round color. Most varieties fair best in the shade, but there are some that do quite well in mixed light or even full sun! The often spectacular blooms last for month's and many varieties have very colorful leaves that are quite striking when they're not blooming. By using different varieties you can have bromeliads blooming in your garden every month of the year. They always provide interesting form and texture in a tropical garden.

They actually require minimal care. Most varieties need very little in supplemental watering. That's because bromeliads store their own water. The leaves actually form small reservoirs where water collects and is slowly absorbed by the plants. The roots serve more as anchors than as a way of taking up water and nutrients. That's why some types of bromeliads actually grow better hanging in trees than they do in the ground.

There are hundreds of different varieties. Consult a book or your local garden center to see which varieties suit your needs. The initial price of a bromeliads may seem a little expensive. They usually cost from $10 t0 $30. But with a little attention they will multiply and last for years. The individual plants bloom once and then slowly die. But before they die, they will produce several off shoots, often called "pups". About once a year you will want to cut away the old dead and dieing plants and separate the pups. In most cases the pups will start off as little sprouts near the base of the mother plant. In time they will put out root systems of their own. At that point you can separate them with a pair of sharp pruners. Some varieties are more prolific than others, but in a few years you should have plenty to give to friends or trade for other types that you don't have.

The only pest problem I have had with them is snails. They love to hide in the damp centers of the plants during the day and come out and eat the leaves at night. An occasional application of snail bait in the area usually takes care of the problem. Or if there are just a few, and you can find them, you can just pick them out. Other than that the only trick is to get the right bromeliad in the right lighting conditions. If you put shade varieties in the sun, they will sunburn and never look good. Ask your supplier for advice and when in doubt, it is better to ere on the side of too much shade. A little bit of liquid fertilizer, like miracle grow, once in a while keeps them in top condition.

Next time you are looking for a plant to give your garden a little spot of low maintenance color, consider bromeliads.