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| HELP! I have such a black thumb that my fake plants die! But I'm finally trying my hand at fixing up my desert of a yard. I just purchased a large container of assorted flowers to attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies. As per directions I shook the seeds from the container and sewed lightly. I planted in an large area that gets afternoon sun (west side of house). The directions said there were chips that would sparkle when watered and stop when water was needed. But I thought mulching would be better. 3/4 of the way though it occurred to me that the seeds wouldn't get enough light to grow if they were covered in mulch. Please answer ASAP if possible as I just put the mulch on and although it would be a daunting task I can take it off. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Gloria, one of the benefits to applying mulch is that it can help to prevent the germination of weed seeds. But, it will work the same for desirable seeds as you guessed. You can't cover seeds with mulch and expect them to sprout. |
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| Yes, you can cover seeds with mulch and expect them to grow, and mulch will not stop weeds from sprouting. There are two separate things going on: sprouting and growing, and they are separate processes. Sprouting will not occur if the seeds have dried out after sowing. An airy sort of mulch will shield from the drying wind and the hot Sun but let light and air in. If a leaf can see light, it'll grow to it. A thick layer of heavy mulch like pine bark, gravel, or tree chipper run will prevent growth by smothering after sprouting. The problem is that no one has defined "mulch" here. It can mean anything from a six inch layer of ground up truck tires to a sprinkling of pine needles. |
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| There is a limited amount of nutrients/energy stored within the seed, only enough to get the cotyledons to the surface and into light where they can begin to make their own 'food'. Cover it too deeply with soil or mulch and that energy is expended before the seedling begins to grow - it dies. |
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