tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11736717.post1636188541235123419..comments2008-04-07T10:25:01.291-04:00North Country Maturing Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803012130487483902noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11736717.post-49137080786482567142008-04-07T10:25:00.000-04:002008-04-07T10:25:00.000-04:00You are absolutely right! <BR/>I don't remove mulch either. This however, says WINTER mulch. If you have piled on mulch to keep those plants protected, it needs to be brought down to a reasonable depth. If I seemed to indicate anything else, I sure didn't mean it. But you thought I did, so others must have seen it that way as well.<BR/>Mulch should not be so thick as to smother plants. Take off the excess and dump it into the compost where it can be used another day. Leave the rest, right where it is!North Country Maturing Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00803012130487483902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11736717.post-88849267699167627522008-04-04T15:49:00.000-04:002008-04-04T15:49:00.000-04:00Re: Removing Mulch<BR/>One might consider not removing mulch under certain circumstances.I garden in raised beds and just let my mulch decompose and return to the soil. My fall planted garlic beds, for example, are heavily mulched with straw which I just plant through after harvesting. After a few years of this approach, one need not even till the soil when planting as it is so friable. Mulch is too valuable a commodity to not use to its fullest.Weed preventer, water conserving, AND soil enhancement.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11736717.post-56395549362280608042008-04-02T19:53:00.000-04:002008-04-02T19:53:00.000-04:00Reguardless of the type of feeder you choose to use, it is important to make sure the feeder is easy to take apart and clean, because it should be washed frequently. You can even clean the hummingbird feeder by running it through the dishwasher. Since you will be needing to clean the feeder frequently, the fill hole should be large enough for you to reach in while cleaning. <BR/><BR/>The best way to feed hummingbirds is by using a nectar feeder. There are several things to keep in mind when using nectar feeders. The feeder should not be located in direct sun, as this causes the sugar solution to spoil rapidly. The feeder must be placed high enough on a branch so that squirrels and other predators cannot feed from it. A mixture of sugar and water is the best way to attract humming birds. This blend is as close as you can come to flower nectars. Honey, molasses or any other artificial sweeteners should NEVER be used to feed hummingbirds. Though they eat small insects for protein, hummingbirds also rely heavily on flower and prepared nectar for their energy needs. <BR/><BR/>It is important to hang your humming bird feeder shortly before spring. If a hummingbird is drawn to the feeder at this time, it will likely return throughout the season, well into fall.<BR/><BR/>It is important that the hummingbird feeder be clean or the hummingbirds will not feed from your feeder. The feeder should be colorful, preferably red and orange, and it can have red ribbons trailing off the feeder so it can be easily spotted by the humming bird. <BR/><BR/>Hummingbird feeders come in many different styles and shapes. Each type of hummingbird feeder has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to consider these things when choosing the feeder that best meets your specific needs. You will also want to select a feeder that is easy to clean since you will need to do this frequently. Regardless of the type of hummingbird feeder you select, having one will help attract these birds to your yard and can provide you with many hours of bird watching enjoyment due to the increased number of hummingbirds that will likely be drawn to your yard.<BR/><BR/>If you would like much more information abouthummingbirds, please click the link below. The site contains many articles about hummingbirds, video clips about hummingbirds, an informative tips booklet on hummingbirds, and much more.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.abouthummingbirds.com" REL="nofollow">Click Here To Visit About Hummingbirds</A><BR/><BR/>Zoe Ann HindsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com