from Rebecca...... For a great garden cover-up, mulch can't be beat. There are a variety of mulches. Some you'll have to buy, but others are free if you look in your own backyard. Pine needles are excellent mulches around trees and shrubs that like acidic soils -- your rhododendrons, blueberries, and even your azaleas. Another option for trees and shrubs is decorative bark, either the large and chunky bark pieces or the shredded kind. The shredded bark will constantly break down, feeding the garden as well as protecting it. The drawback is that it has to be replaced. Cocoa beans make another great mulch. They have a great dark, reddish brown color, a wonderful texture, and they smell fantastic! For vegetables, straw can't be beat, though dried leaves work, too. These both break down rapidly, feeding the plants. Just remember that mulch needs to be 2 - 3 inches deep in order for it to be effective. Don't forget to watch "Rebecca's Garden" on TV this weekend! Check your local TV listings or log on to http://tv.tribune.com/showfinder/search/0,1001,rebecca,FF.html to find out show times in your area. Here's a sample of what's on this weekend's show: DROUGHT-TOLERANT PLANTS No matter where you live, chances are your garden could use some plants that survive in tough conditions. Find out which drought-tolerant plants can be tough, beautiful, and grow most anywhere in the country. ROBOTIC MOWER Mow the lawn in your sleep? We're not talking about sleep walking! Witness the cutting edge in lawnmower technology. GARDEN BINGO Call it a homegrown gardening game. It's a new way to play in the garden that's great for the kids! Until next week, keep those hands dirty! ----------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to visit us at http://www.rebeccasgarden.com ! Kath <mzmouser@earthlink.net> ~`* `*' `*' `* `*' `*' *' `*' *' `*' `* `*' *' `*' ~~~