Now, Bermuda and mockingbirds

I have been expanding beds, removing the wild Bermuda.  The beds are 
expanded around the edges...I dig up the grass...shake out the sod...you 
are right, it is good stuff and usually has lots of fat earthworms around 
the Bermuda roots.  When I use Roundup, it takes two applications in the 
hottest weather.

I will give the layered approach one more try this spring as I work on yet 
another bed but so far it has not worked for me, no matter how high I pile 
stuff (sometimes over a foot)...the grass just seems to put out longer 
runners and come out the top.

I have lots of trees and mow mulch my leaves.  It makes wonderful 
mulch...some I just mow and leave on the ground to build up top 
soil.  Where the leaves are deep, I mow and move by wheelbarrow to beds 
that need them.  When mowed, they don't blow away.

Re the diving mockingbirds...when they dive bomb, it is usually because 
there is a nest near.  I have cats, too.  Whenever the cat, or neighbor's 
dog, or person gets near a nest, they become very aggressive in protecting it.

Cold winter has arrived in East TN.  My fall garden is definitely put to 
bed...I had been covering my leaf lettuce and bok choy...did have some 
through Christmas but the day after...brrrr.

Bonnie 6+ ETN




At 10:24 AM 12/28/02 -0500, you wrote:
>bonnie-
>for your bermuda grass, i'd suggest glyphosate first. then pile on the
>leaves, newspapers, whatever.  dead grass turned under is humus. precious
>stuff and free.  digging sod is back-breaking, wasteful, and expensive
>(cost of new fill)
>kitty
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Bonnie M. Holmes <holmesbm@usit.net>
> > To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> > Date: 12/28/2002 9:06:58 AM
> > Subject: RE: [CHAT] RE: Theresa, found the perfect thing for you.....
> >
> > Oh, how I envy you...I have wild Bermuda grass which does not die
> > easily...if it is simply turned over, it will continue to take root...I
> > usually have to pull out every single bit of it...I have tried to pile
>high
> > and sometimes the lowest level dies out but the top always has
>Bermuda...I
> > have even put it in black garbage bags...only in the hottest weather does
> > it die...and usually takes months.  I have used other garden refuse to
> > create small berms and love them.  Even a very slight elevation creates
> > interest, makes the area look larger and can create a small eco system.
> >
> > Bonnie Zone 6+ ETN
> >
> > At 07:55 AM 12/28/02 -0600, you wrote:
> > >Or lay a thick layer of newspaper ( no color pages) and add on top with
> > >good soil in fall.... turn over in spring... no more grass. Have also
> > >used a piece of plywood for six months. Kills everything under it.
> > >Alternate ideas for those of us will limited leaves.. (read none here to
> > >speak of yet!)
> > >
> > >Donna
> > >
> > > > 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
> > >
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> > B
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