Mulch Your Spring Flower Bulbs in the Fall for a Beautiful Spring
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Flower bulbs need a good, long, winters sleep. Like some people we know, if they wake up before they are fully
rested, they get kind of cranky, and then they don’t bloom well at all.

Actually what happens is during a mild winter, the soil stays too warm, and the bulbs begin to come out of
dormancy early. They start to grow, and once the tips emerge above the soil line, they are subject to freezing if the
temperatures dip back down below freezing. And that’s usually what happens. After the bulbs have emerged, they
freeze and then don’t bloom at all, or if they do it’s a very sad display.

Another reason this happens is because the bulbs are not planted deep enough. They may have been deep
enough when you planted them, but as the soil goes through the freezing and thawing process, the bulbs can
actually work their way up in the ground. One way to keep your flower bulbs sleeping longer, which will protect
them from freezing, is to mulch the bed.

In the fall just apply a 3-4” layer of well composted mulch. This layer of mulch will do a couple of things. It will
maintain a higher moisture content in the soil, which is good, as long as the soil isn’t too soggy. Well composted
mulch also adds valuable organic matter to the planting bed. Organic matter makes a great natural fertilizer.

A 3-4” layer of mulch also acts as an insulator. It will keep the soil from freezing for a while, which is good
because you don’t want the bulbs going through a series of short cycles of freezing and thawing. Then when the
temperatures drop below freezing and stay there for a while, the soil does eventually freeze. Then the mulch
actually works in reverse and keeps the soil from thawing out too early. Keeping it in a frozen state is actually good
because the bulbs remain dormant for a longer period of time.

When they finally do wake up it is spring time, and hopefully by the time they emerge from the ground the danger
of a hard freeze is past and they will not be damaged. If you can keep them from freezing, they will flower
beautifully. The extra organic matter will help to nourish the bulbs when they are done blooming, and the cycle
starts all over again.

We also plant annual flowers in the same beds with our spring bulbs. By the time the danger of frost is past and it’
s time to plant the annuals, the top of the bulbs have died back and are ready to be removed. The mulch that is
added in the fall also helps to nourish the annual flowers, as well as improve the soil permanently. Anytime you
add well composted organic matter to your planting beds, you are bound to realize multiple benefits. The key
words here are “well composted”. Fresh material is not good.

Michael J. McGroarty is the author of this article.  Visit his most interesting website, http://www.freeplants.com and sign up
for his excellent gardening newsletter.  Article provided by http://gardening-articles.com.  If you use this article the above two
links must be active.
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Popular Options For Garden Hose Storage

Storage solutions for garden hose come in wide and various designs, models, types, and materials. Options
include garden hose holder, garden hose reel, and garden hose cart.

Does a garden hose lying around your garden annoy you? Have you or anyone in the family slipped over the hose
at one time or another? Lighten up. You have many options for storing your garden hose. Take a look.

Garden Hose Holder
Storing your garden hose properly is no longer a problem with garden hose holder. It is typically set up on the side
of your home and plays a vital part in keeping your residence appear organized and tidy. The holders also prevent
everyone, especially children, from tripping in kinked or twisted garden hoses around the house.

This tool also presents a nice-looking and functional choice to other garden hose storage types. It not only keeps
your garden hose smartly curled, but they are on hand in numerous diverse materials and designs. You can find
holders to match the length and type of your garden hose. There are heavy duty ornamental garden hose holders
that feature faucet extension. These models are usually mounted on a sturdy aluminum pole and can be picketed
in your preferred area.

Some hose holders offered are created from wrought iron festooned with lavish designs. These are far different
from everyday plastic hose holders and adjoin a feel of classiness to your home and landscape. You can also
acquire one decked with your name or initial. Depending on the type of material and design that you select, prices
of garden hose holders vary from about 50 to 500 dollars. These holders are offered at Home Depots and on the
Internet.

Garden Hose Reel
Whatever the length of your garden hose (20, 50, 100, or 200 feet,), a garden hose reel will stock it up handily.
Many and varied styles and models of garden hose reels are offered in a lot of stores. There are hose reel models
that are decorative, looking like trendy pots but efficiently serving as hose reels. Some others are portable electric-
powered reels. Still others come in retractable designs that feature advanced layering system to make sure that
the hose pulls in effortlessly and uniformly.
There are hose reels mounted on the side of your residence or on cart units, and can be moved around. Plastic
hose reels cost a few dollars while high-end reels cost about more than 100 dollars. The choices are endless
and the one you purchase just depends on your lifestyle and finances.

Garden Hose Container
A garden hose container helps keep your garden hose from resting scattered on the lawn. The hose is easily
coiled up inside the container to make your landscape or home look more orderly and tidy.

It comes in assorted styles and designs. Some are finished from plastic or wood and carry detachable covers
with lock and storage stands. Other cool and creative hose containers worth buying include those old metal pails,
woven or rattan baskets, or big terra cotta and copper pots. As for woven baskets, they need to be placed indoors
in the wintry weather to prevent it from developing some cracks.

Garden Hose Cart
A garden hose cart is handy and can normally lodge garden hoses up to 250 feet. It makes transporting hoses
easy from one place to another. This mobility makes it more convenient to water your landscape or garden. Quite
a few designs of hose carts are on hand—the stand-alone garden hose cart or the reel and cart together. Or, if you
like to have a complete mechanism to mind your garden, some types of hose carts come as piece of a gardening
station that comprises a sink, table, and storage section.

Author:
For more information on Irrigation Garden Hoses and Garden Hose Connectors please visit our website garden-
hoses.net/irrigation.html and www.garden-hoses.net/connectors.html
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