Free Mulch?

[queenofcorona]

A neighboring city offers free mulch through their forestry division. You just have to load it yourself and can take as much as you want. (I'm thinking a couple pickup bed loads) Would I need to be concerned about the mulch as far as termites/disease (that might harm my plants or trees) or anything else? I have a ton of flower beds needing refreshed and also a couple larger areas I would like to cover that aren't currently mulched now.

In one of those areas I'm in a losing battle with Creeping Charlie - I'm to the point I'm ready to give up and hope using weed killer followed by weed paper and a thick layer of mulch will kill it/smother it. The neighbor on that side has a ton of Creeping Charlie and my efforts to get rid of it over the past few years have been futile since he won't do anything about it in his yard. I'd eventually add plants in the mulched area but this summer likely just put a bench and some container plantings to dress it up a little until I see if the Creeping Charlie indeed stays away.

Anyhow, since I need a bulk amount I'd like to take advantage of the free factor ... but only if it's not going to cost me in damage in the long run. There are a couple mature trees in that area and I definitely don't want to harm them either. Anyone have any experience with this?

[TD2K]

Where's the King of Mulch?

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

<<< Would I need to be concerned about the mulch as far as termites/disease (that might harm my plants or trees) or anything else? >>>

<<<Anyhow, since I need a bulk amount I'd like to take advantage of the free factor ... but only if it's not going to cost me in damage in the long run. >>>


...what's your risk tolerance?

[queenofcorona]

ACK! I take that to mean I should start purchasing bags o'mulch today when I go to pick up a new storm door?? I blame this on my lazy ass neighbor with the yard that looks like a field of tiny purple flowers.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...I like that you posed a question, recieved two questions in response, and then found your answer within... Happy Mother's Day...

[queenofcorona]

LOL, apparently I don't trust "free".

[Gardening Grandma]

Well, personally, considerong the amount you need, I'd take my chances with the free mulch...

The Creeping Charlie - I'd spray the area with Round Up (on a sunny day). Then I'd wait a bit untill it started to turn yellow. Then I'd cover the area with a thick layer of newspapers (wet down after laying it down). Then top with mulch. Next year, the newspaper will have decomposed. You could add a layer of topsoil and replant.

(please excuse the typos -I'm using an iphone with a little bitty keyboard)

[Deleted]

You can BUY mulch by the truckload. I have no idea how much it is, but it's cheaper than the 7 bags I bought at Walmart for $35. Of course, my husband wanted the color enhanced. At least I talked him out of RED. Well, actually, I didn't. I bought brown but told him to think of it as red since he's color blind.

ETA: This is for ONE small flowerbed.

[midjd]

Do you know if the neighboring area is prone to infestations? We have some ash borer problems in my county (according to the DNR website, we're quarantined ) that would make me a little leery of free mulch. But it truly depends on your location, it could be fine.

[queenofcorona]

I picked up the storm door and no mulch. I'll price mulch by the yard (If I can find someplace fairly local that sells it in bulk loose) and then make my decision whether to buy or go with free. I'm thinking at the very least I'll use the free stuff in the Creeping Charlie area because it's going to take a shit ton for adequate coverage. I'll probably call the county extension office and ask their opinion to be on the safe side.

GG - I'm going to take your advice and spray the creeping charlie today since it's sunny and calm outside. Oops, if I happen to spray a few feet over onto the neighbor's property. I like the idea of the newspapers instead of the purchased weed paper, I'd forgotten all about that option! I suppose I should also go warn said neighbor I'm spraying since they let their two dogs out unleashed and they seem to prefer my yard. I'm totally beginning to understand the fences make good neighbors theory.

SS - LOL about the red/brown and color blindness. Maybe I should try to think about the Creeping Charlie as flowers instead of weeds? (btw, I prefer natural colored mulch myself, the plants and flowers provide enough color on their own)

[queenofcorona]

Midwest - That's the thing, I feel like I've read something about this and whatever it is is niggling at the back of my mind. Hopefully a call to the county extension office (that town and my own are in the same county) will offer some clear information as to risk ...

[Gardening Grandma]

GG - I'm going to take your advice and spray the creeping charlie today since it's sunny and calm outside. Oops, if I happen to spray a few feet over onto the neighbor's property. I like the idea of the newspapers instead of the purchased weed paper, I'd forgotten all about that option! I suppose I should also go warn said neighbor I'm spraying since they let their two dogs out unleashed and they seem to prefer my yard. I'm totally beginning to understand the fences make good neighbors theory.

That's thoughtful of you.... When we spray RU, we keep our dogs inside for a couple of hours.

One thought for all of you with pets - if you DO mulch, avoid cocoa shells. It looks and smells wonderful, but it is deadly to animals.... I think most pet owners know that, just throwing it out there.
Sun is shining here now - gonna go pull some weeds..

[Gardening Grandma]

May 8, 2011 15:29:40 GMT -5 @toughtimes said:

Can you just dig the H#ll out the garden to keep down the weeds? I never used Round-up in my life and constant cultivation worked just fine. I would avoid the Round-up, it is pretty toxic stuff.

I don't think Round Up is as toxic as a lot of weed killers. In fact, you can replant the same area 10 days after using it. I do try to limit my use of RU, as I don't want to encourage RU resistant weekd and I do try to avoid the more toxic stuff..

Cultivation is certainly the preferred method of controlling weeds, but if you are dealing with a large area, it isn't realistic unless you have lots of time and energy.

But if you didn't want to use it, you COULD cover the area with black plastic to smother the Creeping Charlie.. Then cover the plastic with mulch. Of course, when you want to plant, you'll have to pull all the plastic up.... That's the trade off.

[oreo]

We have gotten mulch (and compost) many times from the local public and haven't had any issues with it. I think even with the mulch (you are talking about mulch, not just wood chips, right?) the temperature (from decomposition) is such that it kills weeds and other stuff (bugs). Termites can fly so I'm not sure that is much of a concern. Here (Southern California) they swarm in October so maybe you should just get it before that if you are worried about it. We've had it for a couple of years and barely had anything grow in it.

At our you can pay them $3 to use the bulldozer to load your truck so you don't have to hand load it--totally worth it even if you only have a tiny truck.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 8, 2011 10:02:29 GMT -5 TD2K said:

Where's the King of Mulch?

Go get it if you want. It's a good idea to put down a good weed barrier, and spray it for insects and weed control before, during, and after installation.

A good hardwood mulch runs (wholesale) about $12 bucks a yard-- sometimes free isn't the best looking, and for $12 or $36 bucks you can get something nicer.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

May 8, 2011 15:29:40 GMT -5 @toughtimes said:

Can you just dig the H#ll out the garden to keep down the weeds? I never used Round-up in my life and constant cultivation worked just fine. I would avoid the Round-up, it is pretty toxic stuff.

As a rule, sure- cultivation is best (really, it's the ONLY) method that works. I've yet to meet very many people who will do it.

[Deleted]

When your plant, or after the first weeding, Put down black and white newspapers around the plants. Cover with aged straw... minimal need to weed after that. Also helps keep in moisture.

[gooddecisions]

I would be careful about putting it anywhere near the house. I know a few people who went the free route and ended up having termite issues, which cost about 1-2k to treat. Termite wings fall off after they swarm, so they wouldn't necessarily be flying but they are nasty creatures and I wouldn't want them anywhere near my house. Find out what type of mulch they provide and then do some research on what insects it attracts. You may also be able to google the free mulch in your city to find out if there are any infestation complaints.

[Bluerobin]

Queen, the only cure for Creeping Charlie is to pull it out. It manages to grow under mulch. I use it as a ground cover, and I have pulled out 2/3 of it and within 6 months, it is back. It will also creep over sidewalks, etc., so you have to contain it or completely remove it.