A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2007 Mulch

What kind of mulch do you use? And why?

I am needing to mulch my Asparagus bed and not sure what would be the best to use.

i use right dress licorice root mulch. it doesn't wash away like some other types and it retains it's color longer too. when it does finally fade, it doesn't look crappy either.

Pat, early in the season I usually buy a bale or two of straw. Once I start mowing the lawn though, I switch to grass clippings that I collect like every third mowing or so. Shredded leaves would work too.

Have you grown asparagus long? How have you done with it?

I worked 4 bags of cow manure and 4 bags of leaves into a 10 X 15 area. I dug 3 rows about 5 feet apart, and about 1 foot deep. I poured Bone Meal and cow manure into the bottom of the rows, and spaced the crowns about 18" apart.

I planted 2 year old Jersey Knight crowns. This the 4th year so I should get some good Asparagus this year. Last year it was so warm, that the spears came up in February and I wasn't ready for them. Everything I read says to wait until about March or April before you pick, and them pick for 6 to 8 weeks.

When you get finished picking lt let the rest grow and make ferns, and add fertilizer. Next spring mow it all down add some more fertilizer before they start to grow. Asparagus is a heavy feeder.

I like to mulch the bed to keep all the weeds down.

I like to take the full spears, and grill them with some Olive Oil, Butter and Salt. Yumooo!!!!!!