Freshly edged and mulched garden beds-what a beautiful sight! One of my favorite aspects of gardening is the sense of accomplishment you get when a project you've been working on is finally finished. Last night I finally finished edging, planting and mulching my first garden area. If you're wondering what took me so long you're not alone. On a recent visit to my house a friend commented on how relieved I must be that nobody had been stealing any mulch out of the pile in my driveway.
Given how much I love progress, one would think I would make more of it. It's not like I don't try, and don't get me wrong, a good portion of my garden is close to being done. But it's not mulched and if it's not mulched it's not finished. I have a thing about leaving the mulch til last because I usually move and plant through June and I can't stand moving and planting in newly mulched beds. Consequently I end up spreading mulch in much hotter weather than I would prefer.
So it should come as no surprise that on the weekend I am finally ready to start spreading some serious mulch we are about to enter an official heat wave (three consecutive days of temperatures above 90 degrees F). Let the good times and the wheelbarrows roll!
TGIF!
I too love the mulched look, partly because it represents the end of a project - which is a huge and satisfying accomplishment. Your blue pots, those gorgeous new coleus, (and I hate coleus you'll recall), your adorable perfectly behaved garden companion...It all ends up looking magnif!!!
ReplyDeleteHere I can't afford 10 acres of mulch, but several very special areas do get the treatment.
I have neighbors who need a mulching lesson though. They're the ones who mound their front yard trees four feet high with bright red mulch. OYYYYY! The trees are still alive so far. At least they love their property and it is tidy.
I don't mulch the whole garden every year, Marie. If I did it would probably take between 15 and 20 yards and more time than I have. So far I've had six yards delivered in addition to the three or so left over from last year. Depending on how far it goes, I may or may not order more. Monique paid a crew to do her mulch this year. Perhaps I need to look into that.
ReplyDeleteIt looks so good. When friends visit they want to know how I keep the gardens so neat. The answer - I hand weed, I edge and I mulch. No magic. No shortcuts, even in the heat, as you well know. Enjoy some hot hot weather on that gorgeous patio this weekend!
ReplyDeleteSame here, Laurrie. Fortunately I installed a brick edge on most of my garden areas that border lawn so I don't have to do alot of edging. But I don't have a power trimmer so I hand trim with a garden shears. Mulch makes a huge difference-less weeds, less watering...and of course the finished look we all strive to achieve.
DeleteI worked outside for a while tonight and although it was hot, it wasn't horrible. Less humidity for the weekend should work in my favor. Stay cool!
The only shortcut I know is mowing. Somehow it makes a huge difference even if the hand weeding, edging and mulching aren't yet finished. My friend is unhappy that this is true because her partner does the mowing and gets all the credit.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean, Marie. When I have company coming and am short on time, mowing moves to the top of the chore list.
DeleteLooks great Sue! There really is nothing that gives a garden that 'polished' look than fresh edging and mulch... Looks like it's ready for some patio entertaining.
ReplyDeleteDon't remind me! I still have yet to mulch any of my new garden. No time and no money left!
ReplyDeleteThe heat wave sounds awful. Sounds like you're getting your plants tucked in just in time.
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