Lifestyle
Mulch Mania
In this episode of 'Ask Grumpy,' Steve Bender, the Grumpy Gardener, tackles questions about bee balm seeds and offers tips on using fallen leaves as mulch. Joined by his sidekick Nella McGof...
Mulch Mania
Lifestyle •
0:00 / 0:00
Interactive Transcript
spk_0
A man who plants, a man who rants, a man who never says he can't, it is I, Steve Bender,
spk_0
the grumpy gardener.
spk_0
Welcome to season three of Ask Grumpy, a podcast from Southern Living.
spk_0
Whether you're an ardent fan or an eager newcomer, these next few minutes will mark at
spk_0
his start turning point for all things green in your life.
spk_0
As I generously answer questions with 100% accuracy, I'm here with my sassy sidekick,
spk_0
Nella McGoff.
spk_0
Hello Nella.
spk_0
Hey, grumpy.
spk_0
Hey, Nella.
spk_0
We have a question today from Lisa.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
I just found an overlooked packet of bee bomb seeds.
spk_0
Is it too late in the year to sow these in Georgia?
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
Well, it depends.
spk_0
But let me just say in general, seeds of bee bomb and other flowers, whether they're
spk_0
going to be successful for you after saving them, depends on whether you stored them so
spk_0
they stayed dry.
spk_0
If the package was open and moist air got in, your seeds can start to actually germinate
spk_0
in the packet.
spk_0
And then that's not a good place for them.
spk_0
They basically just dry out and croak and you don't have anything you can use.
spk_0
But if the packet remained closed in air from the outside and didn't get in, you have
spk_0
a shot at getting some plants from these seeds.
spk_0
Now you can either sow them now in your garden in a place that you expect them and would
spk_0
like them to come up and you don't have to move them.
spk_0
Or you can store the packet in your refrigerator for the winter and then sow the seeds in the
spk_0
spring.
spk_0
You can sow them into a pot or you can sow them directly into the ground in the garden.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
How long are seeds good for?
spk_0
That depends on the seeds.
spk_0
I mean, there's some seeds that they've had found, you know, in these crypts and stump
spk_0
from ancient times that they've germinated.
spk_0
But generally, in fact, we have this vault that's up in a small bar in Norway, which is the
spk_0
seeds saving vault.
spk_0
And it has a seed repository for thousands and thousands of plants from all over the
spk_0
world.
spk_0
And they keep that thing like, I don't know, it's like 18 degrees below zero and there's
spk_0
no humidity in there.
spk_0
So that they can preserve these seeds for years and years and years.
spk_0
But generally in house, you know, regular conditions, just somebody's house, somebody's
spk_0
garden, I would say you could store them in a jar, put them in your refrigerator and maybe
spk_0
you could keep them for a year.
spk_0
And then after that, you'll probably find the germination percentage going down.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
One more question.
spk_0
I was looking at bee bomb.
spk_0
And it is a beautiful flower.
spk_0
Yes.
spk_0
But it says that it can be invasive because the guys underneath the ground.
spk_0
Oh, yes.
spk_0
Bee bomb is a very pretty perennial that has red or pink or purple.
spk_0
All right.
spk_0
I think even white flowers.
spk_0
It's really good for pollinators, butterflies, hummingbirds and everything.
spk_0
They like it.
spk_0
But it will spread by roots, especially if it has rich, organic soil.
spk_0
So it's one of those plants you just plant one and then you've got others that you can
spk_0
divide in the spring and get more.
spk_0
And then you have others that you can divide and give to unsuspecting people.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
I think that you really love.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
It's a plant that gets away.
spk_0
But it's not an awful plant.
spk_0
There's some things that would just take over your whole yard.
spk_0
I wouldn't put this in that case.
spk_0
It's not cut, say.
spk_0
Yeah, it's not cut, say.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
Thanks, Dave.
spk_0
You're welcome.
spk_0
We'll be back with more after the break.
spk_0
Welcome back to Ask Grumpy, a podcast from Southern Living.
spk_0
Hi, Dave.
spk_0
Hey, Noah.
spk_0
All right.
spk_0
What is our tip of the week?
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
So let me ask you a question, Noah.
spk_0
When all the trees drop their leaves in the fall, what do you do?
spk_0
I tell you what I do.
spk_0
We blow them to the street and my city comes and picks them up.
spk_0
And a lot of people out there who are listening and go, what?
spk_0
The city picks them up.
spk_0
You blow them to the street.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Believe it or not, I mean, they do that in my neighborhood too.
spk_0
And I'm always the maze.
spk_0
And I'm hoping that they're taking all those leaves and taking them to a city composting
spk_0
area.
spk_0
But a lot of places they don't do that.
spk_0
You remember when they used to let you just burn your leaves and hear growing up?
spk_0
That was always my favorite part of fall.
spk_0
You know, I would come out in the morning, sniff the air and then smell of, you know,
spk_0
at least smoke.
spk_0
I love that in the morning, right?
spk_0
But they don't let you do that anymore.
spk_0
Life's just not as fun as it used to be, right?
spk_0
Well, you know what?
spk_0
And I hate to interrupt you.
spk_0
But we have all these piles of leaves at the edge of our yards.
spk_0
And we have a good many kids in my neighborhood.
spk_0
Do I ever see any kids jumping in those leaves?
spk_0
I used to jump in leaves all the time.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Well, how about if there was like a paved surface underneath?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
You weren't too smart to jump in those.
spk_0
You know, because they don't really have a lot of cushioning in contact.
spk_0
A pile of leaves is like 90% air.
spk_0
So you keep that in mind.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
So if you can't, you know, blow the leaves to the curb and you can't burn them, what do
spk_0
you do?
spk_0
Well, here's an idea that I think works really well.
spk_0
Take your mulching mower and put your bagging attachment on your mower and run over your
spk_0
leaves a couple of times and chop them up into this fine chopped up leaves.
spk_0
Chop up leaves and do it.
spk_0
Finally, chop leaves.
spk_0
And it makes a really good mulch for flower beds.
spk_0
The leaves look natural.
spk_0
They have a nice dark color to them.
spk_0
When they're chopped up finally, when you put them down, they will compress a little bit
spk_0
and they will not blow away the way big leaves would.
spk_0
They stay in place.
spk_0
They look good.
spk_0
And as they decompose, they add organic matter to the soil.
spk_0
They enrich the soil.
spk_0
And also, earthworms love to come up and eat them.
spk_0
And that kind of aerates the soil and makes it loosens it up.
spk_0
It makes it a really good place for roots to grow.
spk_0
Maybe we should do that.
spk_0
I think you should.
spk_0
Maybe Kevin should do that.
spk_0
I think Kevin.
spk_0
I'll mention it too.
spk_0
I'll mention it too.
spk_0
Okay.
spk_0
But now, okay.
spk_0
So if you used it for mulch, would we not like put pine straw, that would just be the
spk_0
mulch.
spk_0
We wouldn't do the...
spk_0
Well, you can put as much on there.
spk_0
Oh, whatever.
spk_0
I mean, bark or whatever you use.
spk_0
Well, I think what I'm talking about here is just basically using fallen leaves, chop
spk_0
them up with a mower and use that as the mulch.
spk_0
You don't have to add anything else over that.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
It stays in place.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
It will take a growing season to basically decompose.
spk_0
It's going to hold down the weeds really good.
spk_0
It's going to hold in water really good.
spk_0
And as it decomposes, it's going to enrich the soil.
spk_0
It's going to be a really nice environment for plants.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
We all need to be doing that.
spk_0
I think you should.
spk_0
That's a very great.
spk_0
Now, aren't you glad you listened to this program?
spk_0
Thanks, Dave.
spk_0
So get to it.
spk_0
You're welcome, Nellon.
spk_0
Thanks for tuning in to Ask Grumpy.
spk_0
This podcast airs every Wednesday and Saturday.
spk_0
If you have a question, you know where to find me.
spk_0
No question goes on answered on the Grumpy Garden Facebook page.
spk_0
Be sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode.
spk_0
And we love your feedback, especially positive feedback.
spk_0
If you could rate this podcast and leave a review, that would fill me with joy.
spk_0
You can also find us online at SouthernLiving.com forward slash Ask Grumpy.
spk_0
Nailed it.