Gotcha Dave. Sour is often used to mean acidic, though most folks don't probably realize that when they use the word. But I see what you're saying. For my part, I would never advocate purposely mixing uncomposted woodchips into soil. As a mulch layer over the top-yes, of course. But not mixed in. The other problem with bark or woodchip mulches is their tendency to form a hydrophobic mat. It seems that some of these beneficial fungi which colonize the chip layer, over time, glue the whole thing together with their mycellia. I've already seen it where you can lift an entire tree ring of mulch with one hand like it's all one-piece. The only reasonable method for dealing with this-so far as I'm aware-is to get your three-prong cultivator out and gently work the stuff up. That also freshens its appearance. We use wetting agents to water some of our ornamental plantings in areas where stirring up the mulch isn't feasible, but I wouldn't expect the average homeowner to be purchasing wetting agents! BTW, some folks claim just your general-purpose dish detergent will "work just as well" as the expensive pro stuff. I can tell you from direct experience that's not necessarily so. The big manufacturers of consumer goods like dish detergent vary their recipes as different supplies come and go, or as ingredient prices rise and fall. So you never really know what you're getting. At least with professional wetting agents, they are what they say they are. And it is possible to find relatively low-cost ones, relatively being the operative word there. +oM

It does nothing for the room. Paint it out, remove it or replace with a larger crown. I think you should paint the ceiling the same color as the walls. In my opinion, it looks unfinished in your picture. Diane

this time of year.. in heat waves.. its as if the leaves grow so fast ... they look like they are limp ... and with colder nights ... it can last a bit of time ... but then they pump enough energy and water into the leaves.. and they take on the proper appearance ... and of course.. this might be such.. for this plant ... ken

Completely new to gardening. I had a bunch of bougainvillea leaves and wood that I been broken down for days/years. I added it around my rose as a mulch, and mixing it up into the soil because that area was hard clay. Should i not have done that? It's a small area and i can easily dig it away, but wanted to check before doing so. Also, what would be good for cracked clay soil? I'm thinking bark mulch, but the nursery recommends compost and gypsum. This is a bit too expensive for me right now.