Mulch planting

Marianne's Response

Mulch planting

My yard is very shady. I have a wall in front of the front porch where I have perennials planted such as astilbe and tulips. My “gardener” has set down black mulch for the last four years with the mulch slopping back to front away from the wall leaving a two foot wide bed in front. I have usually planted inpatients in this area digging down to top soil. Problem is now the mulch is so thick that I don’t get down to top soil any more. Will they grow if planted in the mulch alone or do I need to fill in with top soil.

Posted by Larry Donahue on May 26, 2019

Marianne's Response

A lot depends on what type of mulch. If it is bark chips or wood chips you would need to mix in some topsoil to get any annuals to grow. If the mulch is compost mixed with bark chips most annuals would do fine. The best solution may be to use a shovel, dig in past the mulch and overturn the soil mixing the top soil into the mulch. Begonias, coleus, fuchsias and lobelia would all do well in the shade along with the impatiens. Perhaps you could suggest less mulch in future years. Be sure to fertilize annuals for summer long bloom especially if planted in an area with a thick mulch. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti