Mulch

If I dump a whole bunch of compost on a garden bed in the early spring for mulch, or even in the fall, what does that do to the plants in terms of depth of the plant?

For instance, that white/orange/yellow border of mine, it's way below the level of the surrounding grass. Which makes it a major back breaker to weed or do any work in there. So I keep trying to add more and more soil. I'm wondering if I just dump a huge load on in after this season, but before next season, will the bulbs and perennails still come up properly?

I'd like to do this on several flower beds to supress weeds and also because I think it looks nicer in the spring before things fill out.

I wouldn't do that on a plant like a peony where I know depth of planting makes a big difference. But other than peonies and some iris, I can't think of any plant that really needs to stay shallow.

What do you guys think?

I've been doing that to a similar 'sunken' garden which has daylillies and centaurea in it primarily. I don't think it phased either one, although I've probably only added 3-4 inches per season. I also put down a fairly thick top dressing compost in early spring, and as much as I can, I scoop it away from newly emerging perennials. Some I miss altogether, though, and they seem to work their way through the compost. Or perhaps I've killed some and just don't realize it.

I just think it depend on what you have planted there. Enough mulch that you are changing the height of the bed will surely impact some things. There are a few plants that need to be at the right depth - I know Trilliums is another. The reason the are "shocked" when transplanted is that they actually move themselves to the right depth in the soil.

Katie, just triliums do that moving thing or all plants? That's interesting!

You know, I don't know. I found that out about Trilliums from Rick Lupp at Mt. Tahoma nursery in Graham this spring. I would guess the Trillium relatives do it. I know that Iris tend to crawl out of the ground. But I don't know about the rest. Oh, I guess I did read that Trillium and our native Dicentra both rely on ants to spread their seed.

You ask a good question Gwen, and one that I notice is rarely, if ever, considered in gardening books. Over the years I've learned to 'lift' certain plants when mulching so that their crowns don't get too far down. I just stick a fork under them and raise them up a little. It's a bit stressful to the plant, obviously, but not more stressful than being buried. Also, on some like the peonies, I just keep the mulch around the outside of the plant the way I do the trunks of trees.

LIlies will pull themselves down to the proper depth as well.

Lilies grow really well here. If the bunnies and slugs don't eat them. I have a ton that have multiplied getting ready to burst into bloom. Can't wait for that!

Irises not so well. They grow but just don't bloom, beyond the first year when I bought them. One or two will bloom, but I just was outside and noticed I had a bunch that are growing nicely but zero bloom stalks. ??? They are not buried too deep. If anything, it would be not deep enough.

I read that if they're fertilized they might not bloom.... It's the common "I'm a livin' la vida, why should I flower and reproduce - I'm never going to die..." Also they need to be divided regularly I think or they stop blooming...

I've officially gone Iris crazy this week... just placed an order with Van Engelen... As an early birthday present to myself... :)