Arlene - The problem is I have so many flowers there that there is not room for mulch. I'm bad about cramming too much together. I like the look of it for some reason. I don't like to see the ground. I can't help it. Are any of you that way? I think these weeds are coming up from seeds. I know I should give the plants more room, but I try to make them look like a flower arrangement. It only takes about ten minutes to pull the weeds though. I think I'm just getting lazy. LOL.