I'm starting new gardens in SC (we just moved to zone 8 from zone 6 in CT in September) and am wondering what would be the best mulch to use for herbs. DH likes bark mulch or pine straw but I'm not sure if that's good for the herbs (like lavender, which probably wouldn't like it because wouldn't it make the soil more acidic?). What do all you southern (or elsewhere!) gardeners use?
Best mulch for herbs?
I use sand. True, true, I live in the desert, so that makes it handy, but many herbs dislike wetness near their stems, and sand promotes good drainage. I don't know that the soil would become too acidic for the herbs, but the type of mulch you mention would tend to hold a lot of moisture. I'm not sure where in SC Manning is, but I am familiar with the Hilton Head/Savannah GA area, and the humidity and amount of rain in those areas is pretty high.
You might try growing your herbs in mounds with sand within 4-6 inches around the stems and then bark or pine straw further away from the stems.
I am, at this momement, MISSING my z9b roots - if you've spent much time in z6, then you will think the Southern Summer will go on and on... fresh tomatoes in October and November. Ah, memories. ... snowed a few days ago here in the High Desert. I'm aclimating, but it's tough!
Good luck. Enjoy The South!
Thanks kmom, you are so right!!!! We lived in northwest CT, both us, since we were born (except for my few years living in NYC and Chicago in my 20's), so our first winter down here was lovely. We moved here in September, and the fall just sort of segued into winter and we were sitting out on our deck in January and then spring was here, just all gentle movement from one season to another, the sun shining almost always, no snow, no scraping windshields, no skidding on ice!!!!!! Just great!!!! It will be difficult not giving in to watering the herbs more, down here with the hot sun; my first impulse is to water, but I don't think it will make them happier. So far, I've used some pea stone as mulch around my lavenders, just because I don't want to use the bark mulch or pine straw, but I don't know if that's the right thing to do either. This year will be a real learning process!
I use pinestraw mulch for everything because it's free and it works. I have herbs of all kinds, some lavenders, lots of flowers and a few vegies, all mixed together in beds. I've not had any problems with any herb except dill and I am trying that in a pot this year to see if that makes any difference. I pile on the pinestraw in the fall and then rake off the excess in the spring. Good luck with your garden.
Edited to add that I water all my plants about the same, except those that are really designed not to have as much watering (I know, duh!! But I do have one area that is very hard to water and it took me several years to find the right combination of plants, as it is super hot and sunny in that spot.) . I water two or three times per week during a drought-type weather situation in the worst part of the summer, like July and August. If we have had good rain I don't worry about it. I don't treat the herbs any differently.
This message was edited Apr 23, 2007 7:57 AM
Boy, am I having the opposite adaptation - snowed late last week - will Spring EVER get here? I have tomatoes and basils very impatiently waiting to go into the garden!
Your post reminded me of an article in Feb/Mar 1995 Herb Companion called Herb Gardening Louisiana Style. I saved it as I found it informative about growing herbs in the heat of the south.
The article said mulch is necessary to prevent wet soil splashing on herbs spreading soilborne diseases. They recommended a 2-4 inch thick layer to prevent weeds. Around lavenders and sages specifically, they use a light colored gravel and sand mulch. That reflects light to the underside of the plant and also keeps them drier. They also used roadbed limestone (coarse) which adds extra lime that some Mediterranean herbs prefer.
You may find Lavender testy in the southern heat and humidity. I have not grown it but there are some cultivars that are better suited to this climate. Good luck ~ pod
Sorry for butting in , could someone tell me what pine straw is ? Is it just pine needles raked from under a pine tree?
Hey Gardengus,
Yes Pine Straw = Pine Needles. Very common mulch down here because of the number of pine trees. I never had heard of it either before we moved down here. I mulched Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano and Chives with Pine Straw last year and they're all doing fine. But I planted them in a fairly neutral garden soil to start with.
Jeff
Pine straw is just about the handiest thing. It is free for the raking! LOL
I wait till a good soaking rain in May/June then I mulch the flower beds and garden spot. I have even used it in flower pots. It helps keep the soil from drying out and yet if we should get more rain, it allows the water to get thru the mulch. When it breaks down, I just turn it in and add more. It also prevents dirt splashing on the herbs. In our area it has become a commercial business. There are companies that harvest and bale it for sale in the landscaping market.
Gardengus ~ please don't apologize for butting in. It is too easy to assume everyone knows what we are talking about... my apologies ~ pod
Thanks I will have to give it a try. I have a half acre of pines and not much grows under them,except poison ivy.
Glad to see this thread as we want to install an herb garden this year!
Tom DeBaggio recommends mulching with a good 2 inches of sand and/or small gravel ("pea gravel") under lavenders especially, for exactly the reasons podster mentioned.
Gardengus ~ May be wrong on this and will be corrected if I am... but I think the primary reason nothing grows under the pines is not what is in the pine straw but rather that the evergreen tree blocks sunlight and moisture to the ground and the roots compete for every bit of it.
I never knew of pine straw either, until we moved down here! We were using it as mulch like everyone else, but when it came to the lavender, I was worried about the acidity. I've put some pea gravel just around my lavenders, and it looks real nice! But I don't want to put it around all my herbs, it would be expensive, plus a pain to pick it all out if plants die (and I'm hearing so many people talk about how difficult it is to grow lavender down here in the south!). I'm glad to know Jeff, gardengram, and Podster, that you've used pine straw around your herbs and not had any problems.
Thea ~ I've never grown lavender. There is a good reference book for southern herbs. They recommend a french lavender (L. dentata). The humidity is not supposed to bother it but it is tender so must be lifted for winter.
Most lavenders in the south are treated as annuals. Also recommend a raised dry bed for drainage and light colored mulch. What color is your pea gravel?
BTW, welcome to the south. Later this summer, we hope you tell us how you like it...
I guess ignorance is bliss. I have four lavender plants (have no idea of the name) that I put in at the beginning of last year. They bloomed and grew and looked fine with their pinestraw mulch. Then over the winter my family members buried everything in pinestraw, including the lavender (they were being helpful). The lavenders are huge and blooming and covered with bees. I did not have a chance to trim them at all. I took a very bad picture, and you really can't tell how big this plant is.
Gardengram,
Those are nice looking lavender plants! How old are they? Do you know if they are 'French' lavender or just plain lavender? I've planted both this year to see how they do but I imagine our climate is pretty similar to yours.
Jeff