Self-seeding vs mulching
Something I've wondered about for a while: if you want to encourage self-seeding, surely mulching will prevent this? Is there a way to manage your mulching without suppressing those things you want to self-seed?
This isn't based on experience, you understand, as this is the first year I've actually started mulching. At the moment it's just a hypothetical question I'm confused about. I've avoided putting anything down where I know there are small seedlings coming up, but I want to encourage my foxgloves etc to self seed around the place. I've had some nice surprises of violets, aquilegia and foxgloves that I haven't planted coming up, and would like this to continue!
This isn't based on experience, you understand, as this is the first year I've actually started mulching. At the moment it's just a hypothetical question I'm confused about. I've avoided putting anything down where I know there are small seedlings coming up, but I want to encourage my foxgloves etc to self seed around the place. I've had some nice surprises of violets, aquilegia and foxgloves that I haven't planted coming up, and would like this to continue!
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If you want to encourage self seeding, you need to change your approach to mulching , either doing it before plants drop their seed, or mulch throughout the year, when you can see where self seeded plants are.
I tend to do the latter, it is more labour intensive, but allows me to get the full benefit of self seeders.
Chill will wake you, high and dry
You'll wonder why.
Would most self-seeders germinate the same year, or would they overwinter as seeds and germinate in spring? I guess my foxgloves, forget-me-nots, etc do the former, so I can see where they're growing come autumn, but I'm worried that mulching late autumn or early spring would bury dormant seeds from other plants that would otherwise germinate.
Or am I just overthinking it looking for a hard-and-fast rule, and it's more a case of knowing what your specific plants do and not hindering them?
'They' say it is better to mulch a smaller area more thickly rather than try to eke out mulch by putting a thin layer over the whole garden. My mulch is mainly home produced compost and 4 large bins produce enough to do about 2 thirds of the garden to a depth of about 4".
I mulch late winter / early spring when I can get into the borders more easily and when the soil is nice and damp (we live in East Anglia and the soil is too dry to mulch for several months of the year). I operate a sort of rotational mulching system. Some bits get mulched every year (where there are hungry plants or where the soil is particularly prone to dry out) and the rest is mulched alternate years.
For plants which I want to seed every year (such as foxgloves) I wave the wands of seed heads over an area which won't be mulched next spring and then just transplant seedlings as necessary. Aquilegias and other plants get to self seed every other year. It helps to keep some of the potential thugs under control.
Most of mine germinate the same year, overwinter as small-ish plants, flower in spring/early summer the following year then set seed and start the whole cycle again.
@BobTheGardener
Great in principle, but I'm afraid I already have enough things I'm planning to sow in the spring, don't have the time or space to add to my workload. One of the reasons self-seeders are so attractive! I'm with @JennyJ, lazy gardening is the way forward, at least while the kids are small...
@LG_
Ha, me also!