Just curious James why you recommend not using red dyed mulch?

There are some organic weed control products that are sold as pre-emergent as well, though I cannot attest to their effectiveness.

This is some interesting research on corn gluten products.

http://www.hort.iastate.edu/gluten/

Hey Brandon, I would add a plastic [I like the kind you pound into the ground] border or stone, rock or brick, to help keep the grass out. I like Cypress Mulch because it smells yummy! And you will have to do some hand weeding...no pain, no gain!

Stone edging is a great idea and very effective at keeping most of the grass/lawn out of your flower beds

I agree with James - don't use red mulch: it looks unnatural.

And only use cypress mulch that is certified to have been harvested in an ecological way. Much of the damage from Hurricane Katrina was due to barrier swamps that had been logged for cypress mulch. I think pine chips smell just as good.....

Home Depot , Lowes any of the garden centers have a weed barrier and some even come with holes in them, it looks like plastic but allows the soil to breath. Once this is put down you can use the holes or make your own to plant the flowers into the ground. This will prevent grass, weeds and anything except the flowers to grow in this spot. After you have all the flowers where you want them cover the area around the flowers with a colored mulch that you like, also available at Home Depot ...»

The problem with weed barriers is that, unless they are de-mulched completely and then re-mulched every year, weed seeds will germinate in the decomposed layer of mulch that's right on top of the barrier. The weeds will root through the barrier, making pulling a real chore. Most folks find that using plain mulch, of whatever kind, is easier than using weed barrier. Newspaper is a practical alternative but it has to be re-applied every year to keep its barrier properties.

I'm currently learning Walter's lesson above about newspaper. I buried my lawn with newspaper and a bunch of cheap pine mulch last year. Worked great for a long time, but now I suddenly have a forest of bindweed growing in the mulch. Of course, I have also talked to several other people with more "serious" weed barriers who have weeds all over their yards. You kind of have to have some grudging respect for weeds. They are quite remarkable species that grow anywhere in any medium. Brandon, ...»

grass does not grow like normal weeds do. The mulch and barrier stuff works well, but grass moves through its root system and the roots will grow under the weed block and up into the garden in that fashion. I suggest that you take a spade and cut into the sod that surrounds the garden down below the root level of the grass. sort of like a V shape with one leg of the V being stright up and down and the other at an angle towards the garden. This will prevent the grass roots from moving into ...»

You're welcome, Brandon. Looks like you've made great strides getting those rocks out. Since you've got some that are pretty good size, you could use them to make a border for you planting area. Make sure that you work in plenty of organic material--compost, composted cow manure, etc.-before you start planting. You have New Guinea impatiens for planting, plus you have that corner, so I'm assuming you have a good bit of shade. You might want to consider putting a shrub toward the back to ...»

Concerning dyed mulch ... The colorants tend to "set" once the mulch is spread-out and dry. Up until that point, colorants can rub-off on hands, clothes and pavement. It's usually recommended that you work with freshly dyed mulches on a dry day, when no rain is forecast. I read,"One variety of red mulch is CCA Mulch that is created from chipped up wood by-products from demolished buildings, decks or other construction projects. CCA is a wood preservative, Chromated Copper Arsenate, that includes arsenic, a known carcinogen."

Use weed control mat, not plastic or tar paper or newspaper. reason... water can penetrate weed control mat. Don't get the 5 year stuff either, weeds will grow right through it. I learned the hard way. I had to remove the mulch & put down a second layer of weed control mat then remulch. Problem solved.

These photos were taken three years ago. The beds look the same today except the plants are ...»

@ James, thanks for your reply. I wasn't sure if it was the color choice or the chemical used particularly for the red dyed mulch that you were recommending against.

What are your thoughts on red lava rock?

I see that there are some green-minded people that prefer we not use the non sustainable cypress mulch product. I have also been told (of course from a vendor trying to steer me away from the ...»

Hey Brandon, you have some great rocks to use for a border and use some of the largest ones in the garden as accents. You have a great corner for a focal point...I would add a hanging fountain, bird bath or dwarf Crepe myrtle in that corner or move that "tree" that is on the right to the corner. The flowers you have are annuals [have to be replanted each year] so get a few perrienials too. Add a few solar accent lights...and Magic! I would continue around the wall with more plants and ...»

Brandon,

Here's a dwarf Crapemyrtle I photographed today at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

It is pictured here with a daylily that gets about 6 ' tall called Hemerocallis 'Autumn Minaret' the name refers to the color not the season of bloom. The Crapemyrtle is 'Pocomoke'

Crepe myrtle is probably not hardy where you are, Brandon, but if you can find one in a local nursery and want to risk it, that protected corner may set up a little microclimate for you.

Red lava rock is great because it is naturally red. Won't serve as a great weed block or have any nutritional advantages though. Shoot us some pics when you're done. Best of luck.

Douglas, You are correct, I forgot for a minute where Brandon lived. !!

You still can have a nice flowering shrub. According to Rutgers University, http://www.talltreesgroup.com/RCE%2010%20Bes..., the best flowering shrubs for New Jersey are; Lilac, Forsythia, Viburnum, Deutzia, Enkianthus, Blackhaw, Beautybush, Weigela and Spirea. The link has photos and other planting info.

Lilacs do well in your region and would offer fragrant flowers in spring!

nice job

i love to use Scott's dyed hardwood mulch. The Earthgrow one is more finely shredded and is guaranteed to hold it's color for one year! And it does. Nothing comes off on your hands or stains the cement. I love their deep forest brown color. It is so rich. It also comes in black and red. Speaking of mulch, I have some "aging" in bags that I should put down before the rain hits

Hi Four Seasons. Thank you for the cypress mulch link As a Master Gardener I learned to advise people to not use the cypress mulch because the cypress trees are not being replenished. If people are aware of this the demand might lessen. Also, often plants and colors fight with the red mulch for attention or can clash with the red mulch. The darker browns and even black work so much better in most cases. Good info about the arsenic. I did not know that.

What's you opinion on red dyed mulch flower scapes?

Oh boy. Some people like the red mulch because it matches the brick on the building. Others like the bright color thinking that it makes the landscape pop. However, I believe that plants, especially flowering ones, do not look natural in red mulch and very often the colorful blooms clash with it. Usually the color of red mulch is too dominate to highlight or show off the plants to their full potential and beauty. Brown mulch does not compete with flowers and enhances their impact on ...»