Now’s the Time to Mulch your Garden

 

The why and how to mulch your fall garden.  

Now that we’re well into November and we’ve had our first snowfall, it’s time to prepare your perennials and rose garden for the season ahead. Because Colorado’s winter weather is rarely predictable, gardening in our area presents unusual challenges, including temperature fluctuation, dry wind, and inadequate moisture. Minimizing these negative influences on your plants is where the organic mulches come into play. 

The primary reason for applying mulch at this time of the year is to keep the ground cold and stable and maintain plant dormancy, especially during the brief warm spells we typically get through the course of our normal winters. The right mulch will not only stabilize the ground, but conserve moisture, reduce plant damage and protect the soil.  

   

Garden and landscape mulches are available in two types, organic and inorganic. Organic mulches include shredded wood, fine bark, aged compost and leaves.  Inorganic mulches include rock, gravel and artificial products.  Technically, both types of mulch will work. Inorganic materials such as stone and river rock don’t break down, so they typically don’t need to be reapplied every year. 

Inorganic mulches are generally applied with a fabric barrier to discourage weeds from growing, as well as keep the mulch in place. While this helps to reduce maintenance, it also hinders moisture absorption, adding nutrients and making soil amendments. Long term, your plants don’t do as well.   

  

If you want the most effective mulch in terms of winter plant protection, moisture conservation, soil stabilization and enrichment, choose organic mulch. For perennial beds and roses, shredded bark and fine bark work well and provide a natural look. The goal is to apply a three to four-inch layer of mulch to your perennial beds and roses, once the ground turns cold.   

 A two cubic foot bag of shredded cedar or Gorilla Hair mulch will cover approximately six square feet three inches deep.   

You may have read or heard that using bark mulches will lock up the nitrogen in the soil. Organic matter applied to the top of the soil decomposes slowly, without affecting available nitrogen levels deeper in the bed.  

 

Using compost as mulch not only helps insulate plant roots against extreme temperatures but improves soil as it breaks down.   Spread a two-to-three-inch layer of high-grade compost on top of the soil. Compost will gradually break down through the winter, enriching the soil with organic matter and nutrients.  

 

  

Keeping the plants in your landscape healthy through the Colorado winters can be challenging but by applying organic mulch at the right time, your roses and perennials will be better protected from the winter weather.  

 

 

How to Plant and Care for Amaryllis Bulbs

Easily grown indoors, amaryllis are a good choice to brighten your home during the dark days of winter. It takes anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks after planting for the blooms to appear, so now's the time to get started. 

These stunning plants come in a variety of colors including red, pink, white, maroon, and many more! They are a favorite gift plant because they add reliable beauty when grown in containers. 

When choosing a bulb, it’s important to consider quality and size. Look for bulbs that are firm and still have some of their natural papery covering. Amaryllis bulbs are sized from small to X-large. Generally, the larger the bulb size, the more stalks and blooms it will produce.  

Once you've chosen the bulbs you want to start, it's time to pick out a container. Ceramic, clay or plastic pots will all work but it’s important the container you select has good drainage. It's also important to know that amaryllis like to be snug in their pot, so select a container that's about an inch or so larger than the bulb and is deep enough for the roots to grow.

Next, add damp potting soil to the bottom third of the pot. Place the bulb in the center of the pot and spread the roots out so they fan out from the center of the bulb. Do the best you can with the roots. You're mainly trying to keep them from bunching up under the bulb. Fill in around the bulb with more damp potting soil, leaving the top third of the bulb uncovered. Water thoroughly and place the planted bulb in a warm, well-lit location.  

 

Once the flower stalk begins to appear, you can start feeding your bulb with a blooming fertilizer such as 15-30-15. Plan to fertilize every two weeks and water frequently enough to keep the soil moist.   

As the flowers start to fade, cut them off. This is to prevent seeds from forming. Wait until the flower stalk starts to turn yellow before removing it.  

 

When you do cut off the flower stalk, be careful not to remove any leaves. The leaves are necessary to create energy for the bulb, so it will rebloom. Place the amaryllis in a bright indoor location and water regularly, along with your other houseplants. Fertilize monthly with 15-30-15 plant food.   

 

Amaryllis can also be grown in water. Select a container that doesn’t drain, add stones or gravel to the bottom of the pot and place your amaryllis bulb in the center of the container.  Next, add water to the container to reach the base of the bulb. Choose a warm, bright location for your bulb and maintain the water level throughout the growing and blooming cycle. For colorful blooms throughout the holidays, plant an amaryllis bulb every three to four weeks, starting now. 

 

Make the holidays merry and bright with this extraordinary winter flower!