Mulch

[Michie]

Does mulch attract termites? Can it be treated? The colored mulch, does the color stay true?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The color fades. Spring time is always the pretty read mulch--and by the end of summer the color has rinsed off.


As far as termites--I think they must do something to it--but the other thing to be concerned for is carpenter ants. My exterminator treats for that so it is a non-issue.

 

[poohandwendy]

Yes, Yes and No.

LOL, yes...if not treated, it absolutely can and will attract termites. And no, the color does not stay true...well, for a while it does, but the sun and rain fades the color out gradually. If you are looking for it to match something and stay that color, you will be disappointed.

In our area, it stays pretty nice for a season and needs replaced every year.

 

[Michie]

well...scratch mulch off my list.

Maybe some colored rock

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Even rock needs to get replenished--not as much as mulch though.

I like the look of river rock--really pretty.

 

[poohandwendy]

I have river rock on the side of our house, I love it. Lisa is right, it does need added to every couple of years (not sure where they go...I guess I am sending mine to China or something)...but it is really nice. And does really well to keep the weeds out. Although, I don't think it would be very easy to grow bedding plants, like annuals. I have hostas on that side and they do well.

 

[ashjohnson80]

i don't know about termites, but if you live in a fairly humid, warm climate (like south carolina) beware of artillery fungus. it can ruin your car's paint job.

 

[SillyMe]

Mulch attracts carpenter ants, I know that. Stone is nice, does have to be "freshened up" a little every year, but not as often as mulch does. I think the mulch looks nice for about the first week it's on, then it fades.

 

[poohandwendy]

i don't know about termites, but if you live in a fairly humid, warm climate (like south carolina) beware of artillery fungus. it can ruin your car's paint job.

ok, this is probably a stupid question...but how does the fungus get on the cars if it is in the mulch? Is it like a pollen or something?

 

[Southern4sure]

I have the reddish rock. All I do is move the rock where I want to plant my flowers, dig my hole and move the rock back. Right now I have impatients, petunias, zinnias and mums planted along with the bushes. I think it looks fine. I'll take a pic later and post if you like. The color fades some (thanks FL sun) but not nearly as fast as mulch. It also helps keep the moisture in the flower beds.

 

[PrincessTori]

i don't know about termites, but if you live in a fairly humid, warm climate (like south carolina) beware of artillery fungus. it can ruin your car's paint job.

Thank you so much for posting this! I've been trying to figure out for the past two years what this stuff is. I'm washing my cars all the time, so it hasn't done anything to the paint, but getting that stuff off the sideing is a pain! Any ideas of how to get rid of it?

 

[Crankyshank]

pine mulch doesn't attract termites.

 

[Jpgirl]

Here's the scoop I got since there's a fear of an aggressive termite in LA spreading through mulch. We had termites in Ohio so some of the infor is from that experience too. Termites live way under ground and never out in the open. They get into houses via tunnels they make. The swarmers you see in the spring are leaving the nest under ground to start new colonies. Now as far as mulch goes-you could see swarmers but they're not the ones that damage the would(until they establish a new underground nest). Since they live underground they're not likely to live in the mulch. I guess they could get transported but mulch goes through so much process I doubt they'd survive the process. We have mulch in our gardens (yes even here in TX) and never had a problem. Previous owners did have termites as we are finding now that we've been here. Dh insists that nothing grow up against or on the house (like bushes too close or ivy) He does a regular inspection of the foundation for the tunnels. Also we have this wonderful pest here called Fire Ants. They are the bane of southerners. But they are very territorial and love to eat termites so dh always allows a nest in our yard to keep the termites away. So use the umlch just don't cover the foundation with it so as to not hide the tunnels. Good luck

 

[Michie]

I have the reddish rock. All I do is move the rock where I want to plant my flowers, dig my hole and move the rock back. Right now I have impatients, petunias, zinnias and mums planted along with the bushes. I think it looks fine. I'll take a pic later and post if you like. The color fades some (thanks FL sun) but not nearly as fast as mulch. It also helps keep the moisture in the flower beds.

Please post a picture. I bought all of my plants yesterday and I am starting to panic I have my garden plans all layed out, but am starting to stress over the mulch/rock.

I think I might have overbought on the plants How long will they last in the flats if I keep watering them?

 

[chyam]

Does anyone have any experience with the colored "rubber" mulch? I know it is more expensive, but I have been leery of the regular mulch products because of the bugs and the fading.I have heard they make it from old tires, and I am all for recylcing if it works it maybe worth the extra money.

 

[rayelias]

Does anyone have any experience with the colored "rubber" mulch? I know it is more expensive, but I have been leery of the regular mulch products because of the bugs and the fading.I have heard they make it from old tires, and I am all for recylcing if it works it maybe worth the extra money.

I've been doing some research about mulch.

Here's what I've learned (YMMV)...

The process of "mulching" pretty much destroys any termites and carpenter ants. But, even if the mulch is treated, it still creates a very hospitable environment for termites and ants to find and make a home in after it's installed. Same goes for rocks or any kind of ground cover. The ants & termites live underground, but the ground cover (rocks, mulch, etc) provides them protection from the sun, protection from things that may eat them, and keeps it nice and dark and moist, just like they like it. So, keep that in mind.

Rubber mulch, from what I've read is heavy, so it doesn't float away, it doesn't break down, doesn't require the same # of inches of coverage (don't hold me to it, but you're supposed ot have 2" of regular mulch, where 1/2" of rubber mulch will do). The color stays for around 12 years. But, since it is synthetic, it does not provide nutrients to the ground, like regular mulch can. And, it's like 3X as expensive. I think Home Depot has regular mulch for about $4 a bag and the same coverage for rubber mulch is around $13.

If any of my "facts" are incorrect, please feel free to correct. I am NOT an expert, and my bref knowledge just comes from scouring the web the past few weeks.

 

[Southern4sure]

Please post a picture. I bought all of my plants yesterday and I am starting to panic I have my garden plans all layed out, but am starting to stress over the mulch/rock.

I think I might have overbought on the plants How long will they last in the flats if I keep watering them?

The last couple of weeks we have be re-doing the landscape to remove split leaf thingies...they are very common here in FL. So please over look some of the bushes. DH cut them way way back. Still a work in progress. We do need to add more rock though, the previouse owner mixed rock with pine back. We are going to do our best to get rid of the pine bark.

Walkway
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/Southern4sure/000_0332.jpg

shadier side of walk way
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/Southern4sure/000_0334.jpg

African bush daisy
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a184/Southern4sure/000_0100.jpg