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Letter: Old gardening dogs in Richmond can learn new tricks

Re: “Spring clean with a notepad,” News , March 28. You learn something new everyday! In my last Richmond News column (online at Richmond-News.com), I suggested removing leaf mulch from your garden beds in the spring.
gardening
Gardening columnist Lynda Pasacreta’s granddaughters Esme and Lily do their bit in the fall garden, placing leaf mulch on the garden beds.

Re: “Spring clean with a notepad,” News, March 28.

You learn something new everyday! 

In my last Richmond News column (online at Richmond-News.com), I suggested removing leaf mulch from your garden beds in the spring.

I have been removing leaf mulch from my own garden beds every spring. I clean up my garden beds then I add compost to all the beds. 

Many garden experts speak to leaving leaf mulch on your gardens in the spring. My concern with that is tender, tiny plants trying to make their way up to the spring sunlight through the leaf mulch.  Most plants can make their way through the layers of leaves. 

After listening to some experts in the gardening world, the key element to remember is that a forest floor is never bare. Mulches contain amazing nutrients contributing to attaining healthy soil for your plants.

I will now leave my leaf mulch on my garden beds in the spring and cover the mulch with compost. Even old dogs can learn new tricks.

Lynda Pasacreta

RICHMOND