I have several varieties of zinna and cosmos growing in my small community plot. The seedlings were direct-sown, looking great, and were just getting their first set of true leaves.

Three days ago I mulched in between the rows with leaf mulch that came from our county leaf recycling program. When I checked the garden today, the seedlings are dying. The leaves are turning brown. I am afraid they got chemically burned from the mulch. I removed it right away.

My question is, what happened? And, it there any way to save the seedlings or help them recover? Some are all brown, but others are still green where their first true leaves are emerging at the center of the plant. Are they salvagable, or should I pull them all out and plant again? Is it too late to direct-sow in the ground? I really just wanted some cutting flowers, but I think I may have blowin it! Thanks in advance!

Anyway, no it is not too late to reseed. Zinnias will germinate quickly. The cosmos won't bloom until late in the summer when the days start getting shorter because they are day length sensitive. The only way to make cosmos bloom sooner is start them in seed trays, and plant the plugs.