I currently have a cypress mulch, and after having to treat for termites I found in one of my rose beds (@#$%@#$!!!! ) I'm seriously thinking about switching to a groundcover or something else. I do have plenty of leaves, and I've built a pallet bin to store them for future use.

I put cardboard under my mulch, and will continue to do that. I've got lots of earthworms, so despite my clay soil (is there anything else in Missouri that isn't currently underwater?) it's not bad dirt.

If you use mulch, what do you use and how long does it last? I know rocks can heat up and fry leaves, not to mention I'd need to keep them contained in the beds and away from mower blades. I'm wary of rubber mulch; I'll be planting pole beans and a few other edibles on my trellises until the climbers are too big for that. I could stick with wood mulch, if there are types the termites can't eat.

Do you use leaves? How long do they last? How often do you have to 'top off' through the season?

Do you use living mulches/groundcover plantings? What do you use; Perennial, annual, sedum, dianthus, etc., etc., How much care do they take? I've heard of using strawberries, and I like that idea. I just want something that's effective, and doesn't just create more areas to weed.

For those who have beds that border their house, what do you use there? I have three such beds, and while they aren't big they will need some mulching - currently the Creeping Charlie/ground ivy is providing a ground cover

So many garden chores, so little time when it isn't 1. raining 2. hot AND humid 3. MOSQUITOS! Ack, I'm going to have to fog my yard or something.

I like to use straw in some areas and other areas I'm using cedar mulch. Living groundcovers work to a point but I find here that they don't improve the soil and they are a pain to weed in and around. Around my roses I usually use cypress or cedar mulch but this year I had several straw bales left over from using as a winter break around my cat house so I'm using those up. Leaves work great also and I leave whatever leaves that fall into the gardens there.

I use whatever organic material I have on hand: leaves grass clippings, hay, shavings, uprooted weeds, manure, etc. I don't believe your cypress mulch created the termites, it just alerted you to their presence - hopefully before they started in on your house.

I went to plant a salvia in that bed and found them. Eek! Porkpal, they hadn't found the house yet! Pest control guy also checked the neighbor's garage (which was the closest structure to that bed) and found nothing.
He even checked the neighbor's basement for her! I think I could have taken my house having damage better than if something had happened to the neighbor's. He treated that bed, and treated the foundation. I've got a 4-year warranty/guarantee for that, so a few less worries. I just don't want to find any more in other beds!

Pepper, I see you're also in north MO! I hope you're well away from the flooding! What groundcovers did you try that didn't work?

I think the termites might have been in the mulch itself. That happens sometimes.

I'm south of the flooding about 30 min but have family and friends who live close to the river and are dealing with having to find different ways to get out and around it. A friend who lives that way had to grab his boat last weekend and help round up some cattle and get them out of the floodwaters.

I've used various sedum and creeping phlox. The weeds will get through them even when they are thick. When you go to weed in them you leave big gaping holes and footprints in them and you can't just brush your hands or shovel over them and make it look like nothing happened. I have creeping phlox still in one area that needs some weeds taken out but I'm lazy with them and just run the weedeater over them and call it good.

If they came in with the mulch that would explain it. Although my yard has no shortage of trees, and there's been at least one cut down; I can't rule out that they were here, and the mulched area drew them because of the plant roots and nice soft earth. Little @#%$%*&

Glad your family and friends are safe, Pepper! Sedum and creeping phlox are what I was thinking of, darn! My beds are pretty small - I can reach everything, either from the front or back. Maybe someone can chime in about the strawberries - the plants are starting to go on clearance around here.

ac91z6 said:I currently have a cypress mulch, and after having to treat for termites I found in one of my rose beds (@#$%@#$!!!! ) I'm seriously thinking about switching to a groundcover or something else. I do have plenty of leaves, and I've built a pallet bin to store them for future use.

I put cardboard under my mulch, and will continue to do that. I've got lots of earthworms, so despite my clay soil (is there anything else in Missouri that isn't currently underwater?) it's not bad dirt.

If you use mulch, what do you use and how long does it last? I know rocks can heat up and fry leaves, not to mention I'd need to keep them contained in the beds and away from mower blades. I'm wary of rubber mulch; I'll be planting pole beans and a few other edibles on my trellises until the climbers are too big for that. I could stick with wood mulch, if there are types the termites can't eat.

Do you use leaves? How long do they last? How often do you have to 'top off' through the season?

Do you use living mulches/groundcover plantings? What do you use; Perennial, annual, sedum, dianthus, etc., etc., How much care do they take? I've heard of using strawberries, and I like that idea. I just want something that's effective, and doesn't just create more areas to weed.

For those who have beds that border their house, what do you use there? I have three such beds, and while they aren't big they will need some mulching - currently the Creeping Charlie/ground ivy is providing a ground cover

So many garden chores, so little time when it isn't 1. raining 2. hot AND humid 3. MOSQUITOS! Ack, I'm going to have to fog my yard or something.

For mosquitoes, check out "Spartan Mosquito Eradicator". It's supposed to be set out earlier in the year, however, "better late than never".
They work!!!
Check out the "Texas Gardening Forum", in the forum list (on this website). Find the "Spartan Mosquito Eradicator" thread. There's a ton of info.
Good luck!

Both cypress and cedar mulch tend to be termite resistant. I doubt that the termites came in the cypress mulch.

I use some plants as ground covers but mostly use mulch. I use a good three inches of the stuff all around my yard. It helps to retain water in my hotter than Hades garden and helps to keep plants cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Big plus is I only have to weed about 5--10 minutes a week (if that). I use either a cypress or cedar mulch or pathway ground cover.

If you plant strawberries as living mulch, you will inevitably have to step on them (to weed, move plants, etc.) and squish the strawberries which can attract unwanted insects and other rodents. Also, for here, in my climate, once you plant strawberries, you will never get rid of them.

This year was a big refresh of the mulch for me. The mulch breaks down and helps with my awful soil. In fact, after several years of doing this, I can now dig into my beds more than just 1/4 inch without a jackhammer! I just keep my mulch at 3 inches all year long.

As for mosquitoes, best of luck for you on that. I use lemon eucalyptus oil as a natural alternative to pesticides. The citronella thing is a myth. Here is a good video on the whole thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Cocoa Bean Hulls work great plus they have a small fertilizing quality.
I used Eucalyptus till it seems to have disappeared up here but down there you may be able to get some.
It has a quality that insects do not like and help control rot in wood stump I used to put it on.
Both are better than any chip type.

I use bark mulch the town provides to residents free of charge. I'm not sure what it's made up of but it seems to do the trick. I freshen it up every year but just to maintain a 3" layer. Before freshening I'll break up the existing mulch a bit so it doesn't form a shell. The benefit is it breaks down and enriches the soil over time.

I love coco bean hulls but if you have pets, it is a form of chocolate and may be a problem if they ingest it.

I agree with Mustbnuts; cocoa bean hulls are toxic to dogs.

I use Sweet Peet. It's pricey and has to be replaced each year if all you use is a thin layer like I do, but it's good stuff.

Last year I bought mulch from the gas station. When I started to poured it in my roses it was full of ants! I took it out right away. Lesson learned. Now I only use cedar mulch. It seems to help some with the insects.

Thanks guys! Moondog, that looks like a good solution - half my problem is I have no electrical outlets to run the usual skeeter traps, but these look promising! Mustbnuts, that's good to know about the cocoa hulls. I don't have any pets, and the neighbors don't (right now anyway), but there's always the future. And I don't think I've ever seen these in stores around here. Mike, that stuff sounds great, and half my beds could really use some amending; it looks like the nearest dealer is almost 200 miles away though. I could go visit the Missouri Botanical Gardens while I'm there though... I'd need about 14 bags for that one side, and it sounds like that would break my budget! Maybe just one bed at time...
I may call City Hall and see what the town does with their wood chips. I know quality can be iffy (possible poison ivy, 'chip' size) but it's worth a shot. Pineapple, that sounds awful! It was just ants, but eek! Finding a good brand may be a problem out here in the boonies.

Old thread, but noticed @Mike mentions Sweet Peet. Mike, I'm also in upstate NY and this is my first year with roses. I'm trying to figure out if Sweet Peet would be safe to pile on my rose bushes for winter protection (and then help the soil be better for them in spring)? Have you ever used it this way? Can't tell if the manure in it would be bad against the canes. My local nursery has it in bulk on sale, and I like to support them instead of the big box stores when I can. Thanks for any tips!