Mulch. What works and what doesn't?

[CraigP]

We are new to the villages and live south. Like most, our house was surrounded with what I believe is pine needle mulch(?). I guess is is what most new homes come with from the builder. We have been told by pest people that this is a haven for certain types of roaches and that we are much better off with rock, other types of mulch (including rubber). Do other agree? What have people had the most success with as far as an alternative to what we have and who would be a good vendor to provide it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Craig

[jimbo2012]

Pine straw is good, pine chips are better, you want something that breaks down and benefits the soil or roots of the plants, it also hold moisture.

Talk to folks at the plant clinic they will say the same, they will also recommend strongly against rocks because they add nothing.

As far as pests, I don't see them as an issue, maybe the the people just don't want do a little extra spraying.

I spray once a month along the foundation perimeter except in the cold months a gallon of spray lasts a long time for $12


If you put the pine straw in bags I'll pick it, I can use it in one area

[TunaFish]

It depends on what you like. I have used cypress mulch and also mini pine bark. I don't like the straw or rocks.

[Bonanza]

We are new to the villages and live south. Like most, our house was surrounded with what I believe is pine needle mulch(?). I guess is is what most new homes come with from the builder. We have been told by pest people that this is a haven for certain types of roaches and that we are much better off with rock, other types of mulch (including rubber). Do other agree? What have people had the most success with as far as an alternative to what we have and who would be a good vendor to provide it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Craig

Yes, the developer only puts in pine needles and they glorify it by calling it "pine straw." It is cheaper than any other type of mulch, and I even hesitate to call it mulch because it is so airy and doesn't provide protection from the heat/sun or cold. My personal opinion is that it is sloppy looking and does nothing to enhance anyone's landscaping. It also has to be spread more often because it disintegrates quickly.

The best mulch you could possibly use is cypress followed by melaleuca but they are difficult to find in this area. The great thing about cypress is that in a heavy rain, it does not float away; it stays in place. Pine nuggets and/or bark are also good choices mulch.

Stones and rubber add nothing to our sandy and clay "soil" (I hesitate to use that word!), and while stones can look nice and many homes have them, you run the risk of possibly frying your plants and shrubs. After some years the stones sink and become embedded in the dirt and you either have to add to them or remove them and start all over. Rubber is probably the worst thing you could use because it floats away in the rain and becomes a mess. When rubber mulch becomes embedded in your grass . . . forget it!

You will get opinions from others mentioning the benefits of stones and rubber, but the fact of the matter is they may look good, but that is the extent of it; there is no benefit. Neither stones nor rubber are eco friendly and are not mulch!

[juneroses]

Cypress isn't considered Florida-friendly because it's harvested by destroying desirable trees growing in our wetlands.

Melaleuca also grows in the wetlands but is an Australian native and considered invasive here. Cutting it down and chipping it so it can be used as a mulch is considered a positive for the ecosystem.

I personally like and use pine straw.

[graciegirl]

Cypress isn't considered Florida-friendly because it's harvested by destroying desirable trees growing in our wetlands.

Melaleuca also grows in the wetlands but is an Australian native and considered invasive here. Cutting it down and chipping it so it can be used as a mulch is considered a positive for the ecosystem.

I personally like and use pine straw.

The landscapers are trying to sell you stone or rubber.

I like pine straw. All of the beautifully kept common areas have pine straw, but you must keep an adequate layer to keep out weeds.

[rjm1cc]

Pine back seems to work. But only 1 1/2 years-experience
Skip the needles as it will require annual maintenance.

[Happydaz]

Rubber mulch has no place in the landscape. Rocks may look nice, initially, but years down the road the weeds become a problem as wind borne dirt settles around the rocks and the weeds get a foothold. Rock mulch belongs in the desert areas of Arizona and Nevada where you are growing cacti and succulents that love rocks, heat, and a bone dry surface. Having rocks as a mulch in Florida looks out of place, in my opinion. Natural bark mulches are very good and pine straw is a good choice as well. All of these break down and add nutrients to the soil. The fact that you don't have all that landscape fabric like rocks do means fertilizer and water moves through the naturally mulched surface with ease. I like pine straw as I am a gardener who plants many smaller flowers and plants that do well with the lighter coverage of the pine straw. Heavy bark mulches interfere with the growth of these smaller plants. Bark mulch takes some of the nitrogen out of the soil as it breaks down and can slow the growth of the smaller plants. "Florida Friendly" mulches are natural bark and pine straw mulch. As mentioned already Melaleuca mulch is preferred over cypress as it is an invasive plant, whereas the cypress is native and a desirable tree growing in our wetlands.

[obxgal]

If you go down to the new Antrim Dells courtyard villas in Brownwood, you will see that The Villages are now using stones in front of the villas.

[billethkid]

the less grass the better.... we are all trying to have a lush lawn like the one back home....but we need to be reminded we are essentially trying to grow grass on a sand dune!

[tomwed]

Where do you buy pine straw?
How much does it cost per bale? [if that's what it's called]
How many square feet does a bale cover?

[kcrazorbackfan]

I don't like the rock I've got in my landscaping; how does one get rid of the removed rock (removing it myself and not hiring a landscape company)?

[jimbo2012]

Cypress isn't considered Florida-friendly because it's harvested by destroying desirable trees growing in our wetlands.



Are you sure about that because cypress is harvested for its wood as a regular renewable resource here.

When I've been to two mills here they have huge piles of mulch to sell.

Looks FL friendly???

[Happydaz]

Where do you buy pine straw?
How much does it cost per bale? [if that's what i called]
How many square feet does a bale cover?
You can get pine straw at Home Depot and probably Lowes. Some landscape companies will deliver pine straw. Google pine straw in The Villages and you should get some contacts. Price per bale is around $5. Coverage depends on how much is on there before you add any more. You should stir up the old mulch with a fork or garden rake as sometimes it can get a little moldy. Just stir it up to get it aerated before adding new pine straw. I have a huge garden on a corner lot with large beds in the lawn as well as around the house and I order 20 bales. They aren't that big. If you get high quality pine straw it looks nice when added into your beds. I fold handfuls under the small flowers and plants, being careful to not put any near the stems. I also do the same for the shrubs and trees. It looks great to me when it is finished. I use a lot of ground covers, flowers, and shrubs under my palm trees so it has a more natural appearance than the rocked beds with plants spaced every two or three feet looking like they were planted by humans in a line up of "toy soldiers." Properly planted, the pine straw doesn't even become much of a factor as all you see are ground covers, flowers, bushy shrubs, and trees.

[jimbo2012]

try

Browne Distributors
Address: 2600 U.S. Highway 441, Fruitland Park, FL 34731
Phone:(352) 326-8461

they sell pine straw & 3 size grades of pine barks mulch, the smaller mulch breaks down quicker to benefit the soil.

they also deliver

[Bonanza]

Cypress isn't considered Florida-friendly because it's harvested by destroying desirable trees growing in our wetlands.

Melaleuca also grows in the wetlands but is an Australian native and considered invasive here. Cutting it down and chipping it so it can be used as a mulch is considered a positive for the ecosystem.

I personally like and use pine straw.

I stand corrected regarding cypress mulch in today's world because it has been over harvested in many areas of Florida and Louisiana. Where it primarily grows and in many of these areas, it is now protected.

I have to ask you -- why do you like pine straw? You may like it, but as a mulch it does not do the job of holding moisture in your shrub and flower beds. In warmer months you would have to water for longer periods and/or more often.

[Bonanza]

I don't like the rock I've got in my landscaping; how does one get rid of the removed rock (removing it myself and not hiring a landscape company)?

Put an ad stating "landscape stones for free" on this forum's classified section. That's probably the only way you'll get rid of it. Also ask your neighbors.

[Bonanza]

QUOTE=Happydaz;1010783]Rubber mulch has no place in the landscape. Rocks may look nice, initially, but years down the road the weeds become a problem as wind borne dirt settles around the rocks and the weeds get a foothold. Rock mulch belongs in the desert areas of Arizona and Nevada where you are growing cacti and succulents that love rocks, heat, and a bone dry surface. Having rocks as a mulch in Florida looks out of place, in my opinion. Natural bark mulches are very good and pine straw is a good choice as well. All of these break down and add nutrients to the soil. The fact that you don't have all that landscape fabric like rocks do means fertilizer and water moves through the naturally mulched surface with ease. I like pine straw as I am a gardener who plants many smaller flowers and plants that do well with the lighter coverage of the pine straw. Heavy bark mulches interfere with the growth of these smaller plants. Bark mulch takes some of the nitrogen out of the soil as it breaks down and can slow the growth of the smaller plants. "Florida Friendly" mulches are natural bark and pine straw mulch. As mentioned already Melaleuca mulch is preferred over cypress as it is an invasive plant, whereas the cypress is native and a desirable tree growing in our wetlands.[/QUOTE]

Stones are not a mulch and shouldn't be consider as such.
Pine bark,/nuggets are not heavy but should never be installed so thick that plants can't grow through it.
Mulch will not slow the growth when plants are maintained properly.

[fred53]

Any of the pine bark might look nice, but it blows all over the place in a good wind...lousy choice...

[bagboy]

I caution against using pine straw, and I cite two examples. In 2009, a so called controlled burn got out of hand, and soon became a raging 20,000 acre wildfire. Airborne embers from this fire found their way to the Barefoot Resort in North Myrtle Beach, SC. 76 homes were destroyed, and 100 more were damaged. Fire officials announced that the "Barefoot Resort" fire was caused by hot embers igniting homeowners landscaping pine straw.
Example two, in 2013 also in Myrtle Beach, a ground fire was started by sparks from a passing train. Pine straw surrounding a condominium complex was ignited, and 26 buildings were completely destroyed. Hundreds were instantly homeless. During the 1st fire in 2009, I had embers landing in my driveway, and I was at least 5 miles from the fire.
Pine straw is a hazard!!! Mulch that stays moist I think is a better, safer choice.

[graciegirl]

I like pine straw. They use it in all of the common areas.

[jimbo2012]

I think the chance of fire is like 1 in a million.

I would still use it.

Also Myrtle beach doesn't get rain like here.

In fact I use straw & mulch in different areas. they both have great qualities.

[bagboy]

I think the chance of fire is like 1 in a million.

I would still use it.

Also Myrtle beach doesn't get rain like here.

In fact I use straw & mulch in different areas. they both have great qualities.

Yes you are right. Myrtle Beach has 48" of rainfall compared to our 50". I personally don't care who uses what, I was just trying to offer helpful information based on what I have seen firsthand.

[Bonanza]

The landscapers are trying to sell you stone or rubber.

I like pine straw. All of the beautifully kept common areas have pine straw, but you must keep an adequate layer to keep out weeds.

I like pine straw. They use it in all of the common areas.

Every single area, either within The Villages or commercial property owned by the developer, has pine straw. It is a requirement and the only one who can deviate from this requirement is the homeowner after closing. I am assuming the reason for its use is because it is cheap and it looks it. There is nothing about it that gives a nice classy look to landscaping.

The beautifully kept common areas are not beautiful because of pine straw. They are beautiful because of what is planted. These areas would have a much finer, cleaner look if a type of mulch was used, rather than the unkempt look of pine straw.

[jimbo2012]

These areas would have a much finer, cleaner look if a type of mulch was used, rather than the unkempt look of pine straw.

I think you should have prefaced your remarks with "in my opinion" :22yikes:

[tomwed]

You can get pine straw at Home Depot and probably Lowes. Some landscape companies will deliver pine straw. Google pine straw in The Villages and you should get some contacts. Price per bale is around $5. Coverage depends on how much is on there before you add any more. You should stir up the old mulch with a fork or garden rake as sometimes it can get a little moldy. Just stir it up to get it aerated before adding new pine straw. I have a huge garden on a corner lot with large beds in the lawn as well as around the house and I order 20 bales. They aren't that big. If you get high quality pine straw it looks nice when added into your beds. I fold handfuls under the small flowers and plants, being careful to not put any near the stems. I also do the same for the shrubs and trees. It looks great to me when it is finished. I use a lot of ground covers, flowers, and shrubs under my palm trees so it has a more natural appearance than the rocked beds with plants spaced every two or three feet looking like they were planted by humans in a line up of "toy soldiers." Properly planted, the pine straw doesn't even become much of a factor as all you see are ground covers, flowers, bushy shrubs, and trees.

Thank-you for your helpful advice.

[Carla B]

It's ironic that in today's Daily Sun Home & Garden section on the front page, a yard with rocks in the planted beds was chosen "Landscape of the Month," while on page 6a the column by the Sumter Co. UF/IFAS lists myriad reasons not to use rock as a groundcover or "mulch."

[jimbo2012]

the paper is for looks

the UF/IFAS is for the plants

[Wandatime]

I like pine needles (straw, mulch, whatever). It reminds me of growing up in Charleston, SC -- it seems like everyone uses it there.

[missypie]

In North Carolina we always had long beautiful pine needles delivered and placed on our property. We usually bought only about 150 bales at a time. The million dollar homes all had it as well and it looked gorgeous. I like the look, very natural. I guess to each his own, right?

[Bonanza]

I think you should have prefaced your remarks with "in my opinion" :22yikes:

Jimbo -- Of course it's my opinion. Not for a minute would I give your opinion without giving you credit. :1rotfl:

Isn't everything on this forum the poster's opinion unless they are quoting someone or something?

Is there a reason you singled me out from everyone else on this thread???:Screen_of_Death:

[jimbo2012]

It's Internet etiquette to say IMO, you said it like it was a fact.

don't get touchy about it, sorry :bigbow:

[Happydaz]

it's internet etiquette to say imo, you said it like it was a fact.

Don't get touchy about it, sorry :bigbow:

Another way to say it is IMHO. (In my humble opinion.)

[Cedwards38]

The U of F Extension Service likes pine straw.

[Bogie Shooter]

Another way, not shout with large font and BOLD.:throwtomatoes:

[jimbo2012]

Bonanza is the only regular poster doing that. IMHO or IMO it's annoying harder to read

[PaPaLarry]

Pine straw is very good for acid loving plants like azaleas etc. Yes, it does hold the moisture somewhat also. Rocks look nice, but really do not give to the plants, food or nutrition. In the summer when real hot, rocks get very hot and really dry out plant roots faster. Desert plants are better to grow where you have rocks. Bark mulch does hold the water better, and when I'm planting a plant or bush, I put some bark mulch chips in bottom of hole (to hold the moisture) and it seems to work well. I'm sure the extension services, on Rt 466 can help you with your problems and direct you right. They are great people, and full of knowledge.

[Happinow]

When we first did our landscaping we put in the bark chips and quickly found out that this for a poor choice for us. When it rained hard, the rain washed the bark away and into the grass and out on the road. We are in the process of changing it all to rocks. It works for us.

[Bonanza]

It's Internet etiquette to say IMO, you said it like it was a fact.

don't get touchy about it, sorry :bigbow:

Another way, not shout with large font and BOLD.:throwtomatoes:

Bonanza is the only regular poster doing that. IMHO or IMO it's annoying harder to read

While it may be Internet etiquette to say or use IMO on a forum such as this, unless someone is quoting something, it is absolutely understood that whatever the poster is saying is their opinion. Sorry you misunderstood my comment, Jimbo, but I was not getting touchy; I was just curious. Personally, I find a bold font easier to read than the regular light font with the words and lines all squished together. I'll give consideration to changing. :rolleyes:

Bogie -- I never use a large font. In addition, a large font is not an indication of shouting. According to Internet protocol, typing in solid caps is what indicates shouting.

[Bogie Shooter]

ok, my mistake.

[jimbo2012]

toooo funny

:read:


:a20:

[Uptown Girl]

Pine straw is very good for acid loving plants like azaleas etc. Yes, it does hold the moisture somewhat also. Rocks look nice, but really do not give to the plants, food or nutrition. In the summer when real hot, rocks get very hot and really dry out plant roots faster. Desert plants are better to grow where you have rocks. Bark mulch does hold the water better, and when I'm planting a plant or bush, I put some bark mulch chips in bottom of hole (to hold the moisture) and it seems to work well. I'm sure the extension services, on Rt 466 can help you with your problems and direct you right. They are great people, and full of knowledge.

Ahhh, my favorite online garden buddy! Thoughtful post!

In addition to being acid loving, Azaleas have shallow roots in general and fine, (almost) surface roots just under the soil. Some other plants do as well, like Camellias and Gardenias so having rock covering can indeed transfer heat- when in full sun. .... but these bloomers prefer shadier spots, anyway.
Leaving some empty space around the base of the plants when rock is applied is usually best.

I'd say if one wants to be able to change out plantings regularly, like having seasonal annual beds for example, pine straw IS the easiest way to go as the pine straw settles into a mat that can be carefully rolled back in large sections (I use a garden claw tool), then easily rolled into place again around the new plantings. Rolling it back also allows an easy go to apply top dressing of soil as well, like seasonally adding Black Kow, or a product like that.
I consider pine straw to be more a shade guard than a moisture enhancer over the bare soil.
Weeds will pop up, but are very easy to pluck when there is pine straw- again, it can be rolled back to apply pre-emergent weed granules (Preen) if needed.

One big downside is, pine straw can look dull and ragged pretty quick, but can be turned/ top dressed easily with new.
There are color sprays (online) that can revive the look as well, if anyone is interested.
Other wood-type mulches are fine too, but look better if revitalized occasionally.

I have used pine straw and ground cover plants in the past here. I use rock now (leaving space around the base of plants) and confine my seasonal plantings to pots rather than displays in the ground.
Weeds are going to pop up in the rock as well- and they will be harder to pluck, but for the landscape design I have now, it works the best.
I have recently landscaped with plants that do not drop leaves or shed. A must when using rock, in my opinion.
:)

[graciegirl]

ok, my mistake.


:1rotfl::clap2::mademyday: