RE: RE: sod< leaves

Theresa, I don't know about Kitty, but I just put a bit of compost mixed
with our chopped leaves and top that off with some mulch after wetting down
everything, including the newspapers I lay on top of the grass layer.
Nothing blows away and, I have successfully planted bulbs and some bare
roots in this sort of bed with no problems.  (For me its 1) thick pads of
newspapers 2) chopped leaves/grasses mixed with compost from the heap 3)
2-3" of mulch and 4) plant what you want.)

Last early summer, I needed a bed to put cannas in pretty fast.  I did the
same with that bed (only I did scalp the lawn with the mower where I wanted
the bed) and everything grew well.  I can already see where the tilth of the
soil in that bed is going to make re-planting those cannas a breeze after
our last frost date in the spring!  

I don't think I'll ever do the "double dig" approach again!  I'm not getting
any younger and even when I was, I didn't like digging out all the rock and
shaking the dirt from the roots of the grass I used to pull out to make a
bed. LOL!!!  Give it a try Theresa.  I have a feeling you'll be a convert
too.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gardenchat@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf
Of Theresa- yahoo
Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 10:09 AM
To: gardenchat@hort.net
Subject: RE: [CHAT] RE: sod< leaves

Gotcha-  I have done similar too.  Sometimes, though I need a bed available
faster ( like to plant a ton of bulbs in before winter really sets in).  By
the way, how do you keep your leaves from blowing away?

Theresa

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gardenchat@hort.net [o*@hort.net]On
Behalf Of Kitty Morrissy
Sent: Friday, December 27, 2002 9:38 PM
To: gardenchat@hort.net
Subject: RE: [CHAT] RE: Theresa, found the perfect thing for you.....


No, no.
I outline a new bed, then shred leaves and pile them about a foot high on
top of the grass.  Over the winter this kills the grass and the leaves
decompose down to only a few inches over the dead grass.  In late spring I
just turn everything over so that the leaf mold and dead grass get mixed
into the soil providing humus, thus improving the clay soil.  This way I
use the leaves, there's no sod to remove(meaning less back-braking labor),
and the bed is greatly improved.

Kitty

> [Original Message]
> From: Theresa- yahoo <tchessie@yahoo.com>
>
> Let me get this straight- you put sod into your shredder?  If this is
> correct- what a great idea!
>
> Is yours gas powered?
>
> Theresa
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Behalf Of Kitty Morrissy
>
> Most years I steal my neighbor's leaves and shred them for leaf
> mold or to kill grass for a new bed. (no need to send sod to the dump)
> Come spring I just turn it over adding humus to the new bed.

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