Newspaper works but it degrades over time and will also become torn and looks unsightly. It is good in small places for keeping weeds down, but putting any type of "weed fabric" under organic mulch is a total waste of time and money. The weeds grow in the mulch - it's organic and weeds will grow in it. It honestly serves no purpose other than $$ in the pocket of the person installing it (if you have a professional landscaper doing the work) and the company who makes the weed fabric.

Your best bet for weed control is an integrated weed control management program. In the spring, pre-emergent application, either granular or liquid, mechanical weed removal (pulling), and occasional organic/herbicide application as required.

You can use grass clippings in large areas to control weed growth such as in between the rows in your garden if you mow your lawn and bag the clippings. Empty the bags on the ground between the rows and you will have less weeds in your garden area.

I bought some stuff for the front of the house: a boxwood to go at the right of the tree, and a small juniper shrub with gold highlighted branches to go in front between the two of them.

I also bought another lilac bush to put somewhere... DOH!! (Should I just put a sign on my back that says "kick me"?

I'll get some tall annuals to fill in for a few years until the boxwood fills out and takes up more space because it looks pretty dinky next to the tree right now.

Brain and Cheryl,

I haven't planted these yet, so if it sounds like I made a bad choice, please say so! I can exchange these at Lowes if necessary. I was out yesterday and I couldn't help myself.

I gotta tell ya, I was hoping you'd say that!! I really didn't wanna mess with it!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

I was also considering the newspaper thing this year. My thinking is that if the weeds grow in the mulch, won't they be easier to pull since they won't be deeply rooted in the soil??

Also, have you ever used Preen or know whether it is really effective?

Boxwoods are nice, but I hope you bought more than one! I suggest 3...they look nice in sets of 3.

The gold tip juniper is also a good choice...

I love Lilacs. They are nice shrubs and easy to prune...prune them within 6 weeks after they bloom, as they bloom next year on this years new growth. So if you wait too long to prune them, you won't get blooms next year.

Here's a link to FAQs about Preen. http://www.preen.com/newpreen/prdpre...d=1&pid=1#cat1

True about the newspapers under the mulch as well as the weed fabric under the mulch...but do you have any idea what wet newspaper is going to attract and smell like? I would not recommend it.

Thank you for the excellent advice Cheryl! Do the boxwoods go in a row or in a triangle?

I would put them in a triangle.

When's the best time to plant tulip and daffofil bulbs? I want to plan them in a circle in a sectioned off area in the front yard but it gets full sun.

Also, when's the best time to plant a pink dogwood tree?

Thanks for all the advice!

Bulbs are best planted in the fall.

You can plant a dogwood tree now...or before it gets too hot. And then again in late fall before the ground freezes.