Comments on: soldier on, yucca ‘color guard’ http://awaytogarden.com/soldier-on-yucca-%e2%80%98color-guard%e2%80%99 Organic gardening inspiration from Margaret Roach Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:28:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Marie http://awaytogarden.com/soldier-on-yucca-%e2%80%98color-guard%e2%80%99/comment-page-1#comment-55687 Marie Fri, 13 May 2011 11:21:49 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/?p=6842#comment-55687 I found three of these colorful little gems late in the season of 2009. They made it through last summer, though on our high hill with lots of wind, we are more of a zone 4 than 5 climate. Not only did they now make it through 2 winters, but were the first to perk up this year, and really add a kick to the front borders! I hope they flower this year... in spite of our traditional home, town, and gardens, this is a welcome change. I found three of these colorful little gems late in the season of 2009. They made it through last summer, though on our high hill with lots of wind, we are more of a zone 4 than 5 climate. Not only did they now make it through 2 winters, but were the first to perk up this year, and really add a kick to the front borders! I hope they flower this year… in spite of our traditional home, town, and gardens, this is a welcome change.

]]> By: Margaret http://awaytogarden.com/soldier-on-yucca-%e2%80%98color-guard%e2%80%99/comment-page-1#comment-12768 Margaret Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:28:03 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/?p=6842#comment-12768 Welcome, Jamie. I use one mulch only, a composted stable bedding (sort of small wood chip/shaving particles that animals used and then someone piled up to compost and age). I let it deteriorate into the soil, and replenish as needed -- always adding more each spring. This way the underlying soil gets more and more loaded with organic matter and more crumbly by just mulching and letting nature do the rest. I do not mulch in winter here, or at least nothing extra. So your shredded leaves are great...or some other mulch that can just decay right in place and feed the soil...but why remove them? Maybe you put on too much, but all I do is sort of push aside my mulch and plant, then move the mulch back or add more. It is best to do this with pre-composted mulch, though, so maybe pile up all the leaves, shred them, and let them rot a bit and apply next spring. Again, I don't use winter mulches except for things like marginally hardy roses (I used to grow a few and protect them), and newly planted things that might be extra vulnerable, but even then, not so much. Welcome, Jamie. I use one mulch only, a composted stable bedding (sort of small wood chip/shaving particles that animals used and then someone piled up to compost and age). I let it deteriorate into the soil, and replenish as needed — always adding more each spring. This way the underlying soil gets more and more loaded with organic matter and more crumbly by just mulching and letting nature do the rest.

I do not mulch in winter here, or at least nothing extra. So your shredded leaves are great…or some other mulch that can just decay right in place and feed the soil…but why remove them? Maybe you put on too much, but all I do is sort of push aside my mulch and plant, then move the mulch back or add more. It is best to do this with pre-composted mulch, though, so maybe pile up all the leaves, shred them, and let them rot a bit and apply next spring. Again, I don’t use winter mulches except for things like marginally hardy roses (I used to grow a few and protect them), and newly planted things that might be extra vulnerable, but even then, not so much.

]]> By: jamie http://awaytogarden.com/soldier-on-yucca-%e2%80%98color-guard%e2%80%99/comment-page-1#comment-12759 jamie Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:37:41 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/?p=6842#comment-12759 I have a large, bountiful garden of perennials, shrubs and trees in northwest connecticut that consumes inordinate amount of my psychic as well as physical energy -- but which gives so much back I can't stop. But I am looking for ways to be more efficient. so my question is about mulch: For years, in the fall I have chopped upleaves and spread them in depths of 4 inches or so over the gardens once the ground is frozen. Then in the early spring, I have raked off the mulch so I could plant, etc. Then I have reapplied mulch to keep moisutre in and suppress weeds during the summer... is there a simpler way to do this? I have a large, bountiful garden of perennials, shrubs and trees in northwest connecticut that consumes inordinate amount of my psychic as well as physical energy — but which gives so much back I can’t stop. But I am looking for ways to be more efficient. so my question is about mulch: For years, in the fall I have chopped upleaves and spread them in depths of 4 inches or so over the gardens once the ground is frozen. Then in the early spring, I have raked off the mulch so I could plant, etc. Then I have reapplied mulch to keep moisutre in and suppress weeds during the summer… is there a simpler way to do this?

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