Re: question
- Subject: Re: [SG] question
- From: B* B*
- Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 16:37:15 -0400
Well, Marilyn,
I hate to say it, but....
IF YOU DON'T PUT 'IT' DOWN THERE (under the surface), 'IT' DON'T COME UP
HERE!!!(above)
;-)
Sorry, but that is one of the beginning lines I say to all clients who start
off with, 'I want it to look beautiful, but I don't want to spend much
money, and I don't want to spend any time with it'...
Bottom line? Start with fixing the soil, things will then grow better, take
less time to care, and makes the whole gardening process more enjoyable!
Mulch costs money. So does black plastic and the labor for each. Mulch needs
to be redone every year. And roundup from 35-50 dollars plus a sprayer. (no
that little bottle of spray stuff will not do an area like you are talking
about!)
I suggest getting a loan and doing it up right. Just like a house
improvement loan. See it now and enjoy it. Doesn't have to cost a fortune,
doesn't have to be done by you, but maybe a mixture of you and some help.
Start with:
GET RID OF WHAT IS THERE. Bobcat/backhoe is fastest way. $500 a day for
backhoe and worker. May just be a half day. Truck to cart it away, $30 a hr.
May just be a half day.
Bring in compost/humous/topsoil mix. 1 yd covers an area 10x10, 3 inches.
For grass 3-6 inches. For perennials 6-12. For shrubs, dig holes and fill up
to 2 ft deep/3ft wide, or a strip. Compost here costs $30 a yd. Topsoil
about the same. I only use compost. You figure your cost for dumping and
maybe you can wheelbarrow and spread it.
From there, the whole world of plants is available.
Newspaper under mulch is free.
Newspaper over weeds works,when under compost, or mulch.
Roundup works.
For the real project, I sould suggest round up to kill any runner perennial
roots before beginning, but have done the jobs without this, when a backhoe
scrapes.
Also remember that soil consistancy is a major factor. Compacted soil,
compost that is run over with a machine, etc, changes its consistency and
sometimes ruins it for root growth.
Hope this helps.
Bobbie
Bobbie Brooks, MA zone 6.5
Gardens In An Old Fashioned Way
http://daylily.net/gardens/bobbiebrooks.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marilyn" <marimuse@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 12:21 PM
Subject: [SG] question
> Hi, all, am hoping that someone can help me out with this.....I have an
area
> in front of my house that needs some drastic work. It is covered mostly
> with gravel and some dirt mixed in, with mulch that was piled on
top.....and
> TONS of weeks....almost looks like a lawn! We want to do something to
> neaten it up, without having to spend a fortune to have the gravel removed
> and soil brought in. Someone suggested using Roundup to kill the weeds,
> then covering with black plastic, and covering that with mulch....and
> planting some shrubs by the porch and house.
>
> However, someone else said that she would never use black plastic, that it
> keeps the weeds from coming straight up, but does not prevernt them from
> growing.....and she suggested just piling a severl-inch layer of mulch
each
> year.
>
> I would love to hear suggestions from people here.....thanks!
>
> marilyn
>
