Re: the "no till" system (continued)

Tony & Moira Ryan wrote:
 

I am a little puzzled about the bed you want help with. You say it is
sunny but also mention it includes an oak tree. Is it perhaps a very
small tree just yet?


Dear wonderful  garden-heads,

I've been overwhelmed by the great responses to my post asking for info on no-till, and other assorted garden problems. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I  must have done a terrible job of describing my situation, I've given the impression of all this sun, when the truth is, the retaining wall, previously mentioned, has about 40 -50 ft of bright sunlight for about 6 -8 hours, in the summer.  The truth is most of it is shaded, some heavily, some perfectly. The main garden is dappled nicely, and I've been surprised at how much does do well.  And what fails. I cannot grow Alstromeria  (sp) for the life of me, in the sun,  shade or anywhere on this site. But shade is the main issue here. It is a typical Fairfax,  Western Marin County landscape.  Lots of Bays, Oaks, (no I don't know the name of the Oaks, the evergreen, prickly leaves one, that sheds year round and is everywhere, that one), Madrone, and then there are the plum trees that have taken root in my neighbors yards and spread like crazy, because on both sides of my yard, the neighbors are, shall we say, to be kind, letting nature take it's course. In other words, they do nothing.  So their Oaks, Bays etc., shade my garden as well.  The main thing I've taken away from the responses from this list is that I am probably killing my Oaks, by watering too close to them, and spending futile energy trying to grow stuff too close to them. The retaining wall has some lovely shade loving plants in it, and in the sunny area I've tried all sorts of things.  This year it was veggies with a few ornamentals that do ok. This area, as well as the shady area, becomes terribly root bound, in a short time, and next year I will try the no till method. That was my main complaint. This root-binding effect that happens. I guess the roots are from the trees? But I'm not sure. It's all through the bed, even away from the trees.  And then, it doesn't drain well. If I dig down about 6 inches, the ground is bone dry, even after I"ve watered. So my watering methods have failed. And I spend hours, it seems, in the effort.  Someone suggested one of the weeping hoses, and I will try that next year. But it's puzzling to me, and I'm not sure what's going on.  I have used the fallen leaves from the Oaks Bays, etc. as a sort of mulch.  Meaning, I rake them into piles, layer soil on top of it, keep it moist, and in a few weeks or more, I have what I call mulch. (I have this vision of folks rolling with laughter and thinking "what an idiot", or something.) Like everyone knows you can't use Oak leaves or Bay leaves or something like that for mulch. 
Look, I just like to grow plants. Lots and lots of plants. Also, I'm a renter. (horrors!) So I won't be cutting any trees down or anything.  I don't move much,  like twice in 20 years, but when I do, the owner inherits, usually, a beautiful place.  I have no other major vises, anymore, so I'm able to invest in my hobby pretty well in the summer. The only thing I ever take, when I move,  is containers. And often, many of my container plants end up in the ground as well. I think owners luck out when they get me for a tenant. (Me and my Jack Russell). ha!
During the winter it is pretty much dark here, as the sun is below the Redwoods that grow in my neighbors yard.
I have learned so much by posting my request for info, that I'm sure next years garden will be my best so far, thanks to you all.
So I'll keep listening, and again, thanks to all of you.
 

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