AboutLong Island Gardener Expertise Decisions, decisions... If you can't make up your mind which Annuals to grow, you're not alone. Problem with your new flowering Annuals flats? I`ve been there, done that. Petunias, Sweet Alyssum, Larkspur, Marine Blue Lobelia -- they all grow here at my house on Garden Street on Long Island, N.Y.. Cutting and Cottage Gardens, Sun and Shade Gardens, White Gardens and Night Gardens, I`ve done them all. Annuals are the perfect summer flower, bursting with color June through fall's first frost. I can`t speak on Cactus or tender Tropical Plants -- they don`t grow outside in my Zone 7. I`m no Farmer, so I cannot guide you on Fruits and Vegetables. But whether it`s an Annual you want to start from seed, mail-order or pick up at your local garden center, I can help you grow amazing blooms this Summer. Yes, together, we can turn your neighbors green with envy.
Experience I have a lifetime of gardening behind me here on the North Shore of Long Island. While I have degrees in related fields, there's nothing like hands-on work to build real knowledge. I stay on top of current science -- there's a boom in research, and Kingdom Plantae is filled with surprises. By the way, I really do live on Garden Street.
Publications Gannett newspapers, The New York Times, and hundreds of others - but not on Annuals.
Education/Credentials B.A., botany; graduate credits in European Intellectual History and Political Science; minor coursework in related fields, docent training at our local botanical gardens (required for volunteers). I'm currently working on an advanced biochemistry degree.
Awards and Honors I could tell you, but then you'd know who I am.
Question Hello. My wife planted some bulbs in our flower garden last weekend (she said about 1/2" to 1" of dirt over top of the bulbs). She now asked me to mulch the garden which we have never done before. I got a load of black compost mulch to spread but I wanted to make sure that the bulbs would still come up if I put the mulch on top, or if we need to wait until the bulbs have come up through to add the mulch (weeks i assume). Also, the garden center where I got the mulch suggested 3" of mulch. Do you agree or is this too much?
Thanks for your help.
Ryan
Answer What a great idea you have to spend your summer. Mulch does look beautiful around flowers in the summer and it is a terrific way to keep weeds from taking over the place.
Three inches is a solid thick mulch. You can get by with less. But you can follow their specs which are more expensive; me, I like to save money. I am very cheap.
However, I am a little concerned about the depth you chose to plant these bulbs. If you would not mind telling me what exactly you decided to plant with a half inch to one inch of soil over the top, I will be able to get more sleep this week. And maybe even give you more advice about this. A half inch over a bulb is not much. Lots of seeds get a half inch.
All of which means that 3 inches of mulch over a half inch of soil is pretty lean.
And those bulbs will be up and running any second now. You'll be amazed at how fast things grow in June with all this rain and sunshine. That's the way God planned it,
