I have recently created a new garden area with two Japanese maples and one Korean maple, plus some hostas and heuchera. I'm just in the process of adding drip water lines and want to cover this with a mulch. I am not planning on using landscape fabric. I am in Zone 3, but the area gets morning sun and is quite sheltered. My question is, what is the best type of mulch for this garden? Most of the landscaping supply store stock cedar bark mulch, but I have heard this is not good for maples.
I too think the bark mulch should be OK. The best mulch I've used is cut bracken, which is a natural weed suppressant. But I've never seen it sold commercially. I also really like flax, it is very long lasting and also an excellent suppressant. It starts out rather white but fades to a silvery color after a season. I have had good results with wood chips, but the problem is that what I had delivered was full of seeds, elder flower and oak. A real and endless PITA. -E
Thanks Emery and Chimera, Not too much bracken or flax available in my part of the world, so I'm going to source some pine mulch today. I've also been adding some coffee grounds to the beds in hopes of deterring the slugs that are attracted to my new hostas, and I have read that the maples like this, too. Thanks again, Jennifer
