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Remove bark much from border to make way for perennials?

AlchemistAlchemist Posts: 267
in Problem solving
Dear All,
Last year I planted a couple of Geranium Rozanne (first for me) and Dicentra spectablis. So far I don’t see any Rozanne and 2 out of 4 dicentra’s emerge. I don’t have an idea of their exact positions and worried I may have moved the bark whilst reorganising my border, there by covering them. I’d be grateful for your advice on whether it make sense to remove the bark mulch from the border or if waiting, when should I expect them to come out. As a reference my geranium nodosum etc have started their growth in the open. 
Cheers.
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  • StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,087
    Both plants will still be not showing a lot of growth at present so it may be a bit of a problem. It's is best, when applying a mulch, is not to completely cove the plant as this effects the rate of sun and rain it will receive. Also, the plants could rot with the mulch to close to the plant foliage. Obviously, this does not answer your question but I would suggest to wait for growth to appear and then clear the mulch away from the plants to reduce the problems I have stated
  • Mark56Mark56 Posts: 1,653
    I agree wait until they appear, my Rozanne hasn't shown any growth yet. I'd expect the Dicentra to do so very soon.
  • Garden noobGarden noob Posts: 260
    As the others have said, the Rozanne I planted last year also isn't showing any growth yet. I was looking at it earlier today wondering if I should be worried (my other geraniums are showing growth) so I'm encouraged to hear it may yet come back.
  • AlchemistAlchemist Posts: 267
    edited March 2018
    Many thanks for your advice. I shall wait as you suggest. I usually do leave a mulch-pit around the stem. But this is a new garden and was planting several along the way so things got disturbed and now have no idea where the sleeping ones are.  Good to know Rozannes are late starters. I do hope they pop back! Cheers. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,794
    Lots of plants are late this year after all that cold and snow.  I wouldn't worry about the mulch at all.  Plants that have survived winter will come up thru it just fine.  They do in my garden anyway.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • AlchemistAlchemist Posts: 267
    Thats great to know Obelixx. Thanks. I will let you all know how it goes :)

    As we use mulch as a means to supress annual weed-seeds from germination. I always get a bit of hypertension as the equation mulch = plant suppression is hard wired in my brain!!
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    I'm in the same boat. .....my perennials seemed to have gotten covered by the bark mulch ......last year was the first year I used it .....probably due to the weather....cats and dogs disturbing it .  I've also noticed how delayed everything thing is due to the Arctic weather we've been having. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,794
    Alchemist - seeds can germinate with or without light depending on plant but they do need light to grow beyond the seedling leaf stage which is where mulches come in as a preventive measure.    Perennials have a root system designed to produce energy to grow the new shoots when the temps warm up.   Those shoots will push up thru a bark mulch, same as bulbs pushing their shoots up thru soil and mulches.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • AlchemistAlchemist Posts: 267
    Well explained and coming to think of it makes perfect sense 🙂. Why don’t garden books explain the theory behind things like this, than just saying mulch! Thanks again.
  • StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,087
    As its a bark multch I agree that the plant or bulbs will push through. I was considering a solid mulch, say horemanure that would stop light and air and cause rot. I have just mulched my Lobelia and Hosta's with a generous amount of horse manure so my mind set was on that 
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