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Lamium and leaf-cover
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Posted by patricia_md z7 MD (My Page) on Wed, May 31, 06 at 21:49
Am I wrong to allow fallen leaves to cover lamiums as a "mulch" over the winter? (I live in zone 7 and winters are normally not severe.)
Three years ago I planted two lamiums. They reappeared after the first winter but disappeared this year. Last summer I planted four more and *none* of them came up this year.
All are in the shade in raised beds that have a good soil base. Each fall results in a hefty layer of maple, oak, and poplar leaves and I've been leaving them over the plants. Does this smother them or am I just unlucky with lamiums?
-Pat |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Lamium and leaf-cover
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| A heavy leaf cover can smother smaller plants, specially those that are not fully herbaceous (ie., dieback into the ground in winter). Lamium should be evergreen in all but the most extreme end of its hardiness zone (and then, mostly so) and certainly so in zone 7, so is best to remove the leaves after they fall. FWIW, large, unshredded and uncomposted leaves become heavy and waterlogged in winter and can easily produce rotting of smaller, underlying plants, not to mention the smothering factor. |
RE: Lamium and leaf-cover
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| I'd have to agree with gardengal. I know in my yard, my oak leaves make a pretty heavy cover when they fall, and if not raked up, they get wet and matted and even heavier. I would think this wouldn't be good for the lamium. :)
Dee |
RE: Lamium and leaf-cover
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| Thank you, Dee and Gardengal. I just planted three more and will follow your suggestions to remove the heavy leaf cover. I guess they need less protection than I thought. Anyway, it will be an interesting experiment to try. -Pat |
RE: Lamium and leaf-cover
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| Pat, if you want to give them a bit of protection, try shredding the leaves before you put them down. This way they don't get so matted and heavy, and they will fall in amongst the plants and you can leave them as a soil amendment in the spring. :)
Dee |
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