Mulching is one of the best things you can do to achieve great gardening success. Mulching helps retain moisture, adds nutrients back into the soil, suppresses weeds, and keeps the garden looking tidy. A 2”–4” annual mulching also moderates your soil temperature— keeping the ground cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter—thereby reducing the likelihood of heaving. Also called frost heave, heaving is when plants are pushed from the ground during repeated freezing and thawing. Organic mulches, such as compost, composted leaf mulch, and chopped autumn leaves, are an excellent source of mulch. In dry beds where you might grow rosemary or lavender, gravel mulch works well. 

One of my favorite garden climbers is the Mandevilla, a tropical vine plant that is woody-stemmed, that twines as it climbs—sometimes 20 feet or more—making it perfect for trellises, fences, lampposts, railings, mailboxes, or anything it can climb. Mandevilla blooms constantly from spring until fall. Bury a one-gallon pot in the ground, and it will easily cover a fence in a single growing season. Mandevilla needs lots of sunlight in order to flower vigorously. Mine blooms until late October. It is sensitive to overwatering and requires fertile soil that drains well. Regular watering and fertilizing are a must. But allow the soil to dry in between waterings. During the summer, feed mandevilla with a slow-release balanced fertilizer. In the hottest periods, switch to a fertilizer with a higher phosphorous content to help the plant continue its flowering show. 

In our area, bring mandevilla indoors in the fall and keep it as a houseplant if you have enough space. Put the plant in a sunny spot and water about once a week. Don’t expect it to flower during the coldest months, however. The shorter days will not provide enough sunlight. Here is a riskier process to try if indoor space is limited. Cut the plant back to about 4 inches high and store it in a cool, dark place. Don’t let it dry out completely or fertilize it over the winter. When temperatures begin to stay at 65 degrees, it is time to bring mandevilla back outdoors.

Happy Gardening!