Types of mulch

[TikiRick]

All,

Just a thought. With all of the emphasis upon water conservation, we all are in agreement that heavily mulched palms perform better.

However, has anyone ever made any conclusions about what types of mulch benefit palms (or hinder palms?)

I use cypress mulch (not that red dyed stuff either!) only because it is so readily available here in Florida. However, I must admit that at times I feel guilty about the removal of a healthy cypress tree to be made into mulch.

Is there any difference, from a palm's perspective regarding the type of mulch used?

Wood (and what type of wood?)

Rock (pea rock, lava, egg rock)

Straw (pine)

Rubber (recycled rubber tires)

Any ideas??

[junglegalfla]

I use pine bark nuggets and haven't noticed any ill effects. I think that rubber mulch is hideous.  No offense to who ever uses it, to each their own.

[oppalm]

The dyes they use in the color mulches will wear off over time with rain.  I would not use artificially colored mulch on any palm or plant.   I prefer the pine bark mulch and have been using it for years with no ill effects (except I glow at night during a full moon)

[TikiRick]

Kent,

You may glow during a full moon but that has nothing to do with your pine bark mulch!

[ibreakforpalms]

I use about 4 inches or so of black mulch (oak and pine mix that is iron dyed) in the front of the house, outside of my fence.  Then I use about 6-7 inches of Horse manure (mostly wood shavings, some hay and balls of....well you know ) everywhere else.  I find that the horse manure permeates water extremely well and is good for transforming our sandy soils into fertile worm heaven!  And the best part is that it's free (Well besides the work to spread it out in the landscape) !!!

[TikiRick]

(ibreakforpalms @ May 24 2007,11:14)

QUOTE

I use about 4 inches or so of black mulch (oak and pine mix that is iron dyed) in the front of the house, outside of my fence.  Then I use about 6-7 inches of Horse manure (mostly wood shavings, some hay and balls of....well you know ) everywhere else.  I find that the horse manure permeates water extremely well and is good for transforming our sandy soils into fertile worm heaven!  And the best part is that it's free (Well besides the work to spread it out in the landscape) !!!

Where would one go to get the free mulch? Our free municipal mulch has garbarge (string, plastic, scrap metal) sometimes mixed in to it. In addition, it is not all hardwood mulch....palm fronds do not make good, solid, mulch.

Where do you go for the horse manure mulch? Does it draw insects?

[palmmermaid]

(TikiRick @ May 24 2007,11:34)

QUOTE

(ibreakforpalms @ May 24 2007,11:14)

QUOTE

I use about 4 inches or so of black mulch (oak and pine mix that is iron dyed) in the front of the house, outside of my fence.  Then I use about 6-7 inches of Horse manure (mostly wood shavings, some hay and balls of....well you know ) everywhere else.  I find that the horse manure permeates water extremely well and is good for transforming our sandy soils into fertile worm heaven!  And the best part is that it's free (Well besides the work to spread it out in the landscape) !!!

Where would one go to get the free mulch? Our free municipal mulch has garbarge (string, plastic, scrap metal) sometimes mixed in to it. In addition, it is not all hardwood mulch....palm fronds do not make good, solid, mulch.

Where do you go for the horse manure mulch? Does it draw insects?

Rick,

Zimmerman's Tree Service has all the wood mulch you can haul away for free.  I think they are in Boca.  

If you want good, clean (no needles, plastic, etc.) horse manure with wood shavings, come up and see me.  I will give you all you want.  I have a guy who comes and gets it and then makes soil out of it.  I put it in 25 gallon pots for him (that he supplies) and then he comes and gets it.  And I use the small wood chips.  Just bring your truck, some pots or bags (or I can put it in the old plastic shavings bags), and help yourself!

[Brad-Tampa]

For years we have used oak leaf mulch. Every spring when the oaks flush leaves the old leaves are pushed off and since it is the dominate tree cover in the neighborhood everyone rakes and bags them and puts them out on trash day just for me! If you are selective you can get all the clean mulch you want. With a thick layer it is great for water retention, compost for the soil and weed control but I do question if the tannin content is detremental. Any ideas?

[Alberto]

Brad what a beatifull blue Sabals you grow there! Are this S.uresana ?

[ibreakforpalms]

(TikiRick @ May 24 2007,11:34)

QUOTE

(ibreakforpalms @ May 24 2007,11:14)

QUOTE

I use about 4 inches or so of black mulch (oak and pine mix that is iron dyed) in the front of the house, outside of my fence.  Then I use about 6-7 inches of Horse manure (mostly wood shavings, some hay and balls of....well you know ) everywhere else.  I find that the horse manure permeates water extremely well and is good for transforming our sandy soils into fertile worm heaven!  And the best part is that it's free (Well besides the work to spread it out in the landscape) !!!

Where would one go to get the free mulch? Our free municipal mulch has garbarge (string, plastic, scrap metal) sometimes mixed in to it. In addition, it is not all hardwood mulch....palm fronds do not make good, solid, mulch.

Where do you go for the horse manure mulch? Does it draw insects?

I pay for the black bagged mulch and sometimes get a few loads of mulch from the guys in the orange trucks on the side of the road.  The bulk of the free horse manure comes from a horse breeder nearby.  I go with my big open trailer and have her load me up with her tractor (Big everlasting horse manure mountain).  Then usually the next day take 2.5 to 3 hours to unload and spread it with my brother-in-law (But not on gym days, of course! ).  Well worth the effort.

[ibreakforpalms]

(TikiRick @ May 24 2007,11:34)

QUOTE

Does it draw insects?

You'll have a few extra flys around during the day for a couple of weeks, but then they go away.  Really not a big deal.  The manure smell goes away sooner than that though (in about a week or so).

[Brad-Tampa]

Alberto,

The palmate palm in the first pic is HYphaaene coriacea. The second pic is a xButyagrus, Chamaerops, various cycads and a blue Seranoa repens can be seen through the foliage.

Brad

[ibreakforpalms]

(Brad-Tampa @ May 24 2007,22:11)

QUOTE

Alberto,

The palmate palm in the first pic is HYphaaene coriacea. The second pic is a xButyagrus, Chamaerops, various cycads and a blue Seranoa repens can be seen through the foliage.

Brad

Brad,

Don't mean to get off topic, but how's the growth rate on that Hyphaaene coriacea for you?  What size container did you buy it in and how long has it been in the ground?  And finally is that photo of one palm?  I understand that sometimes they don't branch above ground, but form a cluster of stems.  Another couple of pictures of that palm would be apprciated.

Thanks in advance!  

[Alberto]

Hyphaene coriacea!!! Hmmm nice!

It needs heat and dry conditions if I remember well...?

How cold hardy is it?

 Thanks!!

[Brad-Tampa]

Jason,

I didn't mean to hijack the tread either but I thought that our use of free oak leaves as mulch would be interesting. I have questioned the longterm effect of the tannins on the soil chemistry but we have been using it for 30-40 years.

That might give you a hint with the growth rate question. I believe this plant was started from seed circa 1970. There are two females, both of which split 2-3 times before producing main stems. the previous photo is of one plant.

[Brad-Tampa]

As you can see in the last photo, the seeds are viable and are pollinated by a male that is listed in the garden notes as a hybrid H. coriacea X H. trebaica F1

Also in the garden is a H. bengalense var. turinata that was wild collected as seed in Zimbabwe circa 1970

Alberto,

The female H. coriacea was in the ground during the hard freezes of the 80's and were severly defoliated, suffering some permanent truck damage but recovered strongly.

[ibreakforpalms]

Thanks for those pics Brad.  Beautiful specimens!!!

[boondog]

If a person had a big ol' dog, would it be worth going behind her and using it in the soil?

Roger

Down by Houston

[SubTropicRay]

Most palms prefer acidic soil so oak leaves are great.

Great photos Brad.  It's nice to see the premier local garden getting some exposure.  Folks from outside the state or other parts of Florida are not aware how well some tropical palm species do here.

[Brad-Tampa]

Thanks for the compliments, Ray. Your welcome to come by anytime, just bring rain! Hopefully it will start in a couple of weeks. Congrats on your Pine Island property, coastal pine flatwoods are very interesting and will make a great location for a tropical garden with a significant increase in the growing zone over Tampa. The fishing is great also! Brad

[SubTropicRay]

Hi Brad,

You are right about the fishing on PI.  That's another reason for the eventual transition.  I'd love to come by and take some more photos of the garden.

Ray

[Brad-Tampa]

Ray, Please come by and walk the garden sometime. I recently found my father's garden notes with map in his library. Apparently he and Roy Works had organized it when Roy was taking care of the collection. What a valuable find! I'm not as lost as I was without it. Alot of various seeds are going to waste, maybe you can start some more things for PI. Brad

[SubTropicRay]

Brad, please send me a PM and let me know a good time.