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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Haggen prepares to replace Safeway in Ashland on Sunday Medford to host regional bridge tournament May 11-17 Youth musical auditions for 'Peter Pan' set for Saturday Peavine Creek Fire north of Glendale grows to 100 acres 10 things to know for Wednesday Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Peavine Creek Fire north of Glendale grows to 100 acres Emergency services Trail man pleads guilty to federal weapons charges in bizarre drugs and guns case Emergency Services, May 5 Man arrested after spitting on cars Politics and Elections Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Education Hedrick principal to take helm at North Medford High School More kindergartners vaccinated in 2015 Elementary students honor local police officers Levy backers eye final push Two seats contested on Central Point School Board Environment State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Residents say armed mine supporters sully Josephine County's reputation State News Police video bills approved by Oregon House ACLU touts video app for people recording police Volunteers battle invasive plant in Southern Oregon OSU warns that Benton County GMO ban could hurt research Oregon gun sale background check bill heads to governor Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Layne Alan Battenfield Gene Fredric Wolf Milton (Mick) Laverne Cady Connie Leigh Doolittle (Barber) R. Charles "Charlie" Snyder Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Conley returns, leads Grizzlies past Warriors Colon notches rare win over O's Panthers cruise to cross-town sweep Evans lifts North over GP Carle carries South Medford to victory Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers score early, roll over Ducks, 10-2 Craig, Randall earn conference honors Spring has sprung, but work isn't done Raiders' Abbott breaks 22-year-old record Dodge signs as free agent with Falcons Pro Sports Conley returns, leads Grizzlies past Warriors Colon notches rare win over O's Hawks rout Wizards to even series, 1-1 Suit filed against Pacquiao for hiding injury Collins' agent says his client is not meeting with NFL teams Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories Haggen prepares to replace Safeway in Ashland on Sunday Single-family home sales take off Blog: Feeling like a few days in Italy? Medford/Jackson County Chamber has trip planned just for you Cars We Remember: Car enthusiast wishes new model designs were ‘more different’ Women's Leadership Conference prompts Lithia's own version Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business Transportation Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Opinion Latest Clive McFarlane: Racial divide talks often fall off topic Our View: Set firm deadlines on blighted houses Letters to the Editor, May 6 Kathleen Parker: Matters of perception Our View: Oregon's full of givers, and can use more Editorials Our View: Set firm deadlines on blighted houses Our View: Oregon's full of givers, and can use more Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board Other Views: Gun-bill recalls misguided, futile Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 6 Letters to the Editor, May 5 Letters to the Editor, May 4 Letters to the Editor, May 3 Letters to the Editor, May 2 Columns Kathleen Parker: Matters of perception Michael Gerson: The intricate knot of urban poverty Kathleen Parker: Wife of the party Dana Milbank: Clinton's opponents need to smoke her out George Will: The Lusitania's role in history Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history The Medford School Board was right: 'American Pageant' is a fine book, and the board did its homework Lifestyle Latest stories Drones helping create unique wedding photos In Good Faith: Dirty work Community blog: Teatime is anytime when recipes brew new dishes Community blog: You and Me at 83... Eat your greens (tea, that is) Food Community blog: Teatime is anytime when recipes brew new dishes Eat your greens (tea, that is) Season Stepp: Make some cheesecake mousse-filled strawberries Page H. Onorato: Baked potato soup is comfort in a bowl Page H. Onorato: Grandma Jane comes a-calling Home and Garden Dear Monty: Water rights of property owners Paul Rogers: ‘Living’ mulches a healthy alternative to bark Heirloom tomatoes bring ageless flavor Betty Montgomery: You can have a variety of ferns in your garden Clean out household chemicals Friday and Saturday Health Community blog: You and Me at 83... Search on for new medical provider for Butte Falls, Prospect clinics Dr. Murray Feingold: Turn down that noise Health Watch: Pack your pantry with healthy items HealthStyle: It’s all in the family dinner Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Milestones and Achievements Drones helping create unique wedding photos Pick your favorite wedding flowers The ring’s the thing Chic brides are choosing a range of complementary colors for their celebration Registries: ‘Year of the groom’ Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Tina Malia at SOU Music Hall in Ashland Los Lonely Boys and Lucas Nelson at the Rogue Theatre Page Hamilton comes home REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time 5 picks for live entertainment Theater REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Music Tina Malia at SOU Music Hall in Ashland Earthquake benefit for Nepal Los Lonely Boys and Lucas Nelson at the Rogue Theatre Interview: Country singer Suzy Bogguss enjoying life on the road Page Hamilton comes home Community Events Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Movies Victor D. Infante: ‘Avengers’ begs the questions, ‘Why superheroes, and why now?’ Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ has a lot going on Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ knows how to party Catching up with the Avengers Interview: Sofia Vergara talks ‘Hot Pursuit’ Dining Trium is a classic example of a boutique winery Restaurant inspections, May 3, 2015 Taqueria Picaro offers casual Mexican cuisine Restaurant inspections: April 26, 2015 Island Grindz serves up Hawaiian specialties Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Peavine Creek Fire north of Glendale grows to 100 acres ... Our View: Set firm deadlines on blighted houses ... Hedrick principal to take helm at North Medford High School ... Peavine Creek Fire north of Glendale grows to 100 acres ... Our View: Set firm deadlines on blighted houses ... Hedrick principal to take helm at North Medford High School ... Paul Rogers: 'Living' mulches a healthy alternative to bark By Paul Rogers More Content Now MailTribune.com By Paul Rogers More Content Now Posted May. 4, 2015 @ 2:15 pm By Paul Rogers More Content Now Posted May. 4, 2015 @ 2:15 pm » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> We need to consider our use of mulch. What is mulch and why is it used? A mulch is anything used to cover bare ground. A mulch covering is used to suppress the growth of weeds and prevent the loss of water by evaporation from bare soil. A uniform mulch covering visually unites the separated plants in a landscape, prevents extreme swings of soil temperature, prevents the soil from caking and drying and provides myriad other helpful functions depending on the type of mulch used and the needs of the homeowner. Problems arise because mulching material is applied incorrectly or the wrong material is used. Forty years ago, the mulch used was the bark stripped off trees at lumber mills. It was a waste product. Over four decades, the dynamics have changed. Bark mulch has become a marketable product. Wood may be triple-ground and dyed for use everywhere. We need to be aware that there are few definitions governing the sale of wood mulch. Wood waste can come from construction projects, building demolition, shipping pallets or other materials that in the past ended up in landfills. We also should be aware that you are unlikely to see wood mulch used in landscapes in England, Ireland, Europe or the Orient. What do they use as we use mulch? They make use of living mulches. Think of living mulches as groundcovers that self-renew, self perpetuate, perform environmental functions and add ecological and aesthetic dimensions as well. They are sustainable. Depending on the site and the existing planting, moss can be utilized as it is in famous landscapes in England and Japan. If an evergreen “mulch” is needed, consider the use of ivy (hardy English), Vinca (blue or white flowers), Pachysandra (Allegheny or Japanese Spurge), or native plants like Partridgeberry, Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), Ginger (Canadian or European), heaths and heathers, or visit Garden In The Woods to view a living catalogue of native hardy plants. If you wish to broaden your palette, look to the wealth of deciduous groundcovers to use between and under shrubs and trees. Ajugas with white, pink, blue, or purple flowers and leaves of various colors, Lady’s Mantle (Alchemila), Lily-of-the-Valley, some of the Astible, Epimedium, ferns, Lamium, Ground Phlox, Veronica, Carex, Liriope, Waldsteinia (Barren Strawberry), Thyme in great variety, as well as the Sedums and Hens and Chickens that can be used in hot, dry, sunny locations. Aged sawdust or cocoa beans may be used, but never more than 1 inch deep, as both form an attractive mulch for annuals and small perennials. Clean hay (free from weedy plants) is well used in vegetable gardens, as is thin applications of cut lawn grass. I do not recommend fiber mats or black plastic, as both inhibit the free movement of water into the soil and the exchange of soil gases with the atmosphere. A functional mulch should be loose and open. For the same reason, bark mulches should never be applied more than 4 inches deep and never in contact with living plants. Paul Rogers is a correspondent for The Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette. By Paul Rogers More Content Now MailTribune.com By Paul Rogers More Content Now Posted May. 4, 2015 @ 2:15 pm » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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