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Oct 25, 2007 | 12:29 PM PST
Tag: Urban Gardner!
This is my second attempt at reviving my garden that surrounds my scrrened-in front porch, the 1st attempt I dug up all the weeds and started with bare soil, but lack of care lead to all the weeds growing back and no research as to what to plant, just went for colors. Attempt 2, I redug up all the weeds and did a little research as to what would work best for me, its already late fall here but the weather is at high 80's low 50?, but the down side I was told were in drought and going on water restrictions. I measured 1 1/2 ft between plants layed weed eater screen, selection(mums, Japanese Holly, Crimson azalea). and I topped it off with a thicker wood chip sort of mulch! its looking great but i'll need some direction. Do I need to incase the garden with bricks or sm fencing to keep in one spot, how much to water since we are slim on rain, will i have to start from scratch next spring due to October start. ( Any other advice, plan to post pictures soon!)

3 Member Comments

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CarolineC	Oct 25, 2007 \| 2:48 PM PST Yes, water! Water at planting and try to make sure that the plants receive at least 1"- 1 1/2" water per week, I would say, until it gets cold -- maybe for the next two months. Thick wood chips will certainly kill most things-- they might kill your plants too! I usually use a shredded bark mulch. Do not put the mulch right up against the trunk of the trees/bushes. It can cause water to build up and rot the base of the plants. So, keep the mulch a few inches away from the base of the plant. Fall is actually the best time to plant many new plants, as it gives the plants time to grow strong roots in the winter. Mums require full sun to thrive, and lots of water, and azaleas are typically shade plants, so I don't know how much that affected where you planted them. So, I would say that your plants will probably survive, my only advice being to make sure that the mulch is not right up against the base of the plant, and yes, do water. :)
UrbanGardner	Oct 26, 2007 \| 5:59 AM PST thanks so much, yeah today if its not pouring down when I get home as it has the past 2 days i can go out and spend sometime with the garden. I will move the mulch from right on top the plants where needed, actually it is a sort of tree bark mulch, but its the thicker chips, not the thin shredded stuff that tracks. Im not up on correct terms yet. one side of the garden is max sunlight and the other is partial due to the big shade tree.
CarolineC	Oct 26, 2007 \| 8:38 PM PST The mulch is probably all right, as long as it isn't right up against the trunks/stems. I guess I was thinking of a time when my Mom had a tree cut down. They chopped up the tree and gave her wood chips to put in the garden as mulch. She did that, and so much died!! In addition to the type of mulch, though, I don't think she was careful about not putting it too close to the trunks/stems. So that's probably what did it.

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