Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
If you have access to a pick up truck, you can go to certain locations and get free loads or cheap leaf mulch from your local town dump or recycle center. Google around.
We buy 20 yards of it and mulch all of the beds in our yard. I think it looks a lot better than pine straw or bark mulch and it breaks down into very nutritious soil.
Here's my garden as of a week or so ago. Early spring stuff is going strong (mega broccoli!). If nothing else, proof that you really can garden in an HOA neighborhood. :-)
A friend gave me this 3' tall plant I don't know how to graft and it's newly transplanted, or I'd love to share! Next year, perhaps
But you should be able to buy it from Vedic Gardens or most of the larger Indian stores. I remember seeing them in Apna Bazaar before. Pretty sure I've seen them at TIM as well. You live close by IIRC. You should talk to Nagi Reddy of TIM and I'm sure he can hook you up!
This advice comes too late for your 2014 garden but might be helpful in the future.
In the autumn collect fallen leaves from deciduous trees. After spring planting distribute those brown dried leaves around the plants. A layer of 1 or 2 inches deep is an effective weed-control mulch. It helps the soil retain moisture. By the end of the gardening season the leaves will have biodegraded, crumbled into small pieces. Till them into the soil. Year by year your garden soil will be enriched by this addition of organic material. Works for me!
.
Could I use fallen Magnolia leaves for this? I happen to have lots of them right now!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I don't know how to graft and it's newly transplanted, or I'd love to share! Next year, perhaps 
