...I mean, mulch stash...
In order to maximize TiG (time in garden) CG strives to complete basic upkeep of the planting beds during the cold, dormant months. This requires having mulching products on-site and ready to go at all times. It's not fun to spend a nice warm day running around town picking-up supplies and missing-out on prime gardening time. CG will add mulch to the planting beds to a uniform 4" depth. He will purchase more than he actually needs, in order to maintain a surplus of mulch. An ideal 'mulch stash' for CG would include: 2 bales of pine needles, 9 cubic feet of cypress mulch, 4 cubic feet of pine bark, and a recycled 3 cubic ft. bag stuffed with self-made canna mulch.
Dormant-time bed maintenance includes: removal of wintering weeds, pruning, and checking to ensure proper mulch depth. The azalea bed was mulched with pine needles, but this year, a base layer of pine bark was added (with the pine needles layered on top). Iris also prefer an acidic mulch, so CG will be going to the local farmer's co-op for more bales of pine needles. Once the pine needles are in place and become weathered-in, they tend to stay put, without being blown away by the wind, or washed away by the rain.
In a few weeks, transplanting will have to be completed in a timely manner, to get the plants somewhat established before the hot, dry summer weather. When plants are being moved-around, it's a good idea to have mulch on-hand and ready to insulate a moist growing medium (so don't allow the mulch stash to be depleted during the dormant-time bed maintenance! -note to self). Fall is the ideal season to transplant, but CG is a little impatient. He's had good results moving/dividing daylilies, iris, daffodils, and newly rooted forsythia in early spring. Established shrubs and small trees require more frequent waterings and tlc (to include using framed bird netting to shade plant from the overly-harsh afternoon sun). If at all possible, delay the transplanting of mature shrubs and trees until the fall.
*note on mulch:
In the past, trees and limbs from storm damage were brought to a dump and burned. Today, this material is being recycled into mulch. Be sure to check the bag for recycled content. Of course pine needles are essential for acid-loving plants and are 100% sustainable.
When a planting bed is properly mulched and tiered with plants, additional watering (even in periods of drought) is rarely needed with mature root systems.
