Ground cover advice
#1
03-08-16, 03:37 PM
Ground cover advice
When I moved into my house this past autumn, the front yard was covered in black mulch. Underneath the mulch is landscape fabric. I want to plant some ground cover in this area, should I remove the mulch and landscape fabric? I want to plant moss Phlox plants 18" apart along the top edge of a retaining wall that borders the sidewalk and my front lawn. Will they spread out and fill in right with the landscape fabric in place? My home inspector also cautioned me that the mulch will attract termites and for that reason I want to remove it from near the house.
#2
03-08-16, 03:52 PM
Termites are not likely to be attracted to mulch in the way you expect: a food source. However, the moist environment is very appealing to them.
If planting creeping phlox, spreading 18 inches is probably fine. I'd remove the msheating and some of the mulch.
Perhaps you can provide a photo and an idea of what you have in mind, longer term.
If planting creeping phlox, spreading 18 inches is probably fine. I'd remove the msheating and some of the mulch.
Perhaps you can provide a photo and an idea of what you have in mind, longer term.
#3
03-09-16, 08:52 AM
Im planning to put the phlox closer to the wall, and maybe some catmint behind it closer to the porch. I'm leaning toward spreading grass seed on the large area on the side in the second pic. The front is facing south and gets full sun. The soil in this area is on the sandy side but there is probably a lot of organic material on the top layer. The prior long term owners grew old and weren't able to maintain the yard, and it is a mess. There were areas in the back and on the sides covered in mats of old dead leaves and stuff when I moved in. I plan to rent a power rake and overseeder and go to town on the back and side yards. I'm open to ideas especially for that slope and around the tree, and as far as where to have the grass start and end between the tree, porch, and the side.
#4
03-16-16, 01:48 PM
So I should definitely remove the landscape fabric right? Should I mix some of the mulch back in or remove all that too? I have another spot in the back where I could probably use the much.
#5
03-16-16, 02:53 PM
Member
Mulch
Remove the mulch and the landscape fabric.
Test the soil ph. The mulch has probably made the soil acidic.
Acidic soil can be corrected by applying lime.
Test the soil ph. The mulch has probably made the soil acidic.
Acidic soil can be corrected by applying lime.
