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Garden Gate:  Lawn-free suggestions  |
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hurleygirl
Farmgirl in Training
10 Posts
Heather
East Fallowfield
PA
USA
10 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 30 2005 : 1:39:22 PM
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| Has anyone attempted to "kill" their lawn-by this, I mean, anyone just have flowers/native plants/trees that were deliberate? I only have about an acre and a half that isn't pasture or woods but I would like to be completely lawn-free. And-as I discovered too late-the ground is mostly buried boulders/ rocks-which poses a problem for someone as addicted to gardening as I am. |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2005 : 10:13:56 AM
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Hi Heather! I can relate to the boulder/rocks in the ground. At our last house the ground was so bad that I could down about 2 inches before hidding hardpan clay and rock. I couldn't plant anything and got so frustrated. Raised beds are the answer for planting flowers and veggies. Get the book Lasagana Gardening -- she shows how to make raised bed without digging or tilling. As far as not having grass you could plant a low growing ground cover. I planted Blue Star Creeper in my lawn and it took over. Doesn't need to be mowed, really pretty with pale blue star shaped flowers. I live in a more mild climate than you do (Zone 8) so check to see what would be hardy in your area. Hope this helps.
Kay
North Clark County Farmgirls |
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pegC
Farmgirl in Training
16 Posts
Peggi
New Jersey
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2005 : 6:03:59 PM
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Evening, ladies. I too can relate to the boulders issue. I live up mountain region of Northern NJ. Had my poor, but strong husband do most of the digging out of my 11x11 foot garden 2 years ago. I mentioned somewhere else on this chat that we used the boulders to border a flower bed, the front of the house, a flower bed around the mailbox and a new flower bed for a rose-a-sharon tree trimmed from my grandmother's home. Needless to say, lots of rocks. We dug 1 1/2 feet down (some place 2 feet for carrots) and filled in with purchased dirt (not a cheap alternative, but got a decent deal). Wish I'd known about Lasagna Gardening then, although been doing something similar since with leaves and hay each fall, plus my own compost.
Lawn free: I read once somewhere if you can bide the time you could use newsprint to kill grass/weeds. Takes about 6 months. I've used it with success in flower beds. At least gets you starting with a clean slate and the newsprint decomposes as part of the soil. Adds something, I understand. Could cover the newsprint with wood chips or dirt. I had wood chips from a neighbor who cut down some old trees.
Peg
Jersey Farm Girl in Training |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2005 : 7:50:51 PM
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I have been fighting a losing battle with the lawn at the back of our property and have begun to let it go semi-wild. Ferns and phlox, periwinkle and pachysandra ground covers with some ajuga for color and it's blue flowers. The shade from the neighbors trees are making a lawn hopeless and as we are screening out the neighbor this is working quite nicely! We have soil that is very nice and easy to work ( a first for me , clay was my nemesis too!)I am trying to establish swaths of plant material that will create a sort of natural tapestry back there, with some paths meandering through.
Hi PegC and welcome to MJF, I'M from central NJ but spent alot of summers at the 4-H camps in Branchville and Beemerville. Are you anywhere near there? Nice to have you ,Hurleygirl and Kay too! There are so many new farmgirls it's hard to keep up! It's great!
with a happy heart |
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pegC
Farmgirl in Training
16 Posts
Peggi
New Jersey
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2005 : 05:38:46 AM
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bramble,
I'm new to this corner of NJ. I'll look up towns. Branchville sounds familiar. Thanks for the welcome! Your lawn ideas sound beautiful. None of those will work in the sun, will they? Our "lawn" is a full sun collection of weeds with some clover mixed in. And queen anne's lace, which grows and spreads like a weed here. I've given up on grass; the soil is too compacted (rocky, clay). I just keep claiming patches for flower beds until eventually, when my kids are grown, the whole front yard (only 10 feet deep to the house - we have all sides and back yard) will be a huge flower garden with trellises, benches, etc.
Peg
Jersey Farm Girl in Training |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2005 : 05:51:59 AM
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PegC sounds like your yard is on the way to beautiful too! Scratch up some soil in a sunny location and try black eyed susans in the sun. They form nice masses and give great color late in the summer/fall.They will start to spread all over if you let them but are easy to eradicate if you want to.They also grow in any or practically no soil!
with a happy heart |
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lurban
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Vermont
61 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2005 : 07:28:27 AM
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| Will lupines grow where you live? They don't mind rocks at all and they are beautiful! |
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Garden Gate: Lawn-free suggestions |
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Lawn-free suggestions
