Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Sunday - February 26, 2006
From: Delta, CO
Region: Rocky Mountain
Topic: Soils
Title: Plants harmed by chipped spruce and evergreens for mulch in Colorado
Answered by: Joe Marcus and Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What plants would be harmed by using chipped Spruce and evergreens for mulch? Thank you.ANSWER:
If the plants you are growing are native to Colorado, they should not be harmed by spruce and evergreen mulch. You can expect some slow acidification of the soil from using mulch from evergreens so you would want to avoid putting it around plants that prefer basic soils. With any mulch you need to be aware of the possibility of crown and stem rot from too much moisture held near them. This is especially so for herbaceous and small woody plants. You can avoid this problem by not putting the mulch right up around the stem. Leave at least 1 inch around the stem free of mulch and don't layer it too thickly.
More Soils Questions
Desert Willow tree for Plano, TX
March 03, 2013 - I live near Dallas, Texas. I have a small Desert Willow tree that I would like to plant. What is the root system of this tree like? Would I be able to plant it near our patio? How far from the house'...
view the full question and answer
Native plants for clay soil in Lathrop MO
March 21, 2011 - My family just moved to the north Kansas City, MO area and would like to know what native species, both perennial and tree, will do best in the clay soil. It has already proven problematic as we have ...
view the full question and answer
Plants for red clay in Hattiesburg, MS
May 16, 2011 - Looking for plants and flowers to plant in red clay?
view the full question and answer
Adapting to clay soils in British Columbia
April 11, 2006 - What can I use to break down the clay content in my flower bed. It has a high concentration of clay and I want to plant treat it so I can plant flowers in it.
view the full question and answer
Revegetating a hillside in western Washington state
October 10, 2012 - Removing several downed trees across my dock demolished the native plants growing on the hillside and the contractor pulled out their remains. The area faces east on an open freshwater bay. Close to...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
