Posted 12/26/07
Are you playing catchup in the garden? With the lack of rain and a late freeze many people have not planted pansies. The good news is that you still have time. First of all, choose larger sizes. This is the time to plant landscaper 18 count flats and 6” pot sizes. The 6” size is a great deal as it has 3 plants and gives a mature look to your planting.Plant them as soon as possible and be prepared to mulch heavily when temperatures drop into the mid twenties.
Speaking of mulch… it is a wise investment. Mulch provides winter protection and moderates soil temperatures. In the summer mulches lower soil temperatures, keep weed competition in check, and best of all conserves ground moisture. Organic mulches decompose into plant food and improve the tilth of the soil. Mulching makes a lot of sense.
Making your own mulch from composted leaves is both responsible and rewarding. The following link explains how: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/pdf/ag-467.pdf . If that is a bit much for you or you are starting with a new yard we have several products that will help:
Leafcompost. This is a great product for using as a soil amendment or mulch. Made from all natural leaves and ground waste from the streets of Henderson.
Pine bark fines. This product is a composted pine bark product made from the bark waste generated by the lumber industry. This product is very consistent and is the anchor product for many of the soils for greenhouses and nurseries in the southeast.
Hardwood mulch. Many professional landscapers use hardwood mulch because it is staple and does not float or wash as readily as the pine barks and wood mulches.
Dyed wood. This product can be had in a variety of colors. It is very stable and the dyes resist fading. This is a byproduct of various wood manufacturing businesses including pallet manufacturing.
Pine straw. This is the queen of mulches and is readily available from our southern pine forest.
Happy gardening!!
