Originally Posted by Norma Briggs

Good points you raised Newt.

This is a new spot.

I had thought of the plastic because I have read about solarizing the
soil. -but am thinking now that was with clear plastic.

See this is why I asked BEFORE I started.

I wonder if I get the area reasonably grass free and put down compost,
cardboard and newspapers along with a thick layer of hay if that would not
be better in the long run.

I might even experiment with seaweed since it is not only plentifully but
free, minus the price of gas to go get it. I figure, correct me if I am
wrong, that even if it is built up some while I am waiting for the mixture
to decompose, eventually it will decompose enough to be able to till back
into the soil.

Thanks for the food for thought.

Norma
"Newt" wrote in message
news:1110053411.04a92a393f3cfec76ee8dd8f0aea1d0c@t eranews...

Norma Briggs Wrote:
I have read the advice on this wonderful group for the last 3 years and want to say thanks for all the wonderful posts. I have learned much.

I have gained enough love of gardening and confidence now to expand from my tiny reserved spot and want to get another space prepared, I understand that it really may not be ready for edibles until the next growing season or maybe fall crops.

The space I am using now never had grass on it because of trees which had over grown on my lot- So I did not have to remove grass, once the tree was gone there was/had been years of organic matter and the soil was filled with earth worms. I tilled in some compost and peat moss to loosen things up a bit, since being on the Gulf Coast of Texas just north of Galveston Island our soil is like a patch of black concrete if not amended.

I really would like to avoid toxic chemicals if possible, especially being so close to the bay (maybe 1/2 a mile-if that far) since I know now the effect round up and fertilizers have on the ecosystem of Galveston bay.

I have considered doing this:
1. setting the lawnmower on stealth mode to cut the grass to thequick.
2. laying a thick layer of card board on top of the former grass
3. putting the grass clippings on top of the cardboard
4. maybe some plastic sheets, anchored down on top of all that and just going away for a few months to let it all decompose and the rest of the grass die
5. and because of the ascetics, maybe putting some kind of more attractive mulch down on top of the plastic.

I could build a raised bed, but from my experience the water drains out of them faster and since our summers are HOT and often dry (at least till it floods-not much in between here), I am thinking it might be better to go down not up.

Also, I have considered buying some of those plastic swimming pools and drilling holes in the bottom for drainage and using the square foot method until the grass is dead under the pools next spring, then using that spot.

Does anyone have a better idea or advice? Pros/cons ?

Thanks all!

Norma



Hi Norma,
Lots of what you have done and plan to do sounds great, but I'm a little confused, so I'd like to clarify. You said:

"The space I am using now never had grass on it because of trees which had over grown on my lot- So I did not have to remove grass..."

Then you said:
"I have considered doing this:
1. setting the lawnmower on stealth mode to cut the grass to the quick.
2. laying a thick layer of card board on top of the former grass
3. putting the grass clippings on top of the cardboard"

So I'm confused as to whether you have grass where you want to prepare a bed or if this is another bed.

If you are going to shear the grass on another part of your lawn just to get grass clippings, I wouldn't recommend that if you don't have the type of grass that likes to be sheared. If you do have grass where you want to plant, then the best thing to do would be to either remove the grass with a flat shovel or sod stripper, which you can rent. You can let the grass decompose in a separate spot or turn it upside down in place. Put either cardboard or 6 to 8 layers of the black printed pages of newspaper on top. Dampen the newspaper as you go or you'll be chasing it all over the yard and entertaining your neighbors like I did! You could then put a layer of leaves, and/or grass clippings and/or compost on top of that. I wouldn't suggest using the black plastic as that will cook all those lovely worms and microbes you have worked so hard to have. You can let that decompose over the summer. This method is called Lasagna composting or sheet composting.
http://tinyurl.com/37rht
http://tinyurl.com/22hp5

As to adding peat moss, I don't recommend it. It will add some texture, but compost works better and has more nutritional value. Compost will also improve the texture of your soil. Also, peat will retain moisture, but once it dries, it's difficult to rewet. You might want to read here for info on peat moss.
http://www.ondelmarva.com/peat.html
http://tinyurl.com/6odtz

Here's some sites on the soil food web and biology you should find helpful.
http://tinyurl.com/69rfy
http://www.soilfoodweb.com/

I don't think you need to purchase those pools. Besides, once you are done planting you will have to do something with the soil you have in them. Dumping it on top of the site will, in effect, give you the raised bed and the pools will be useless with the holes and just fill up the landfill.

So, in the end I recommend stripping the sod or covering it with several layers of cardboard and/or newspaper and doing the lasagna thing. You could add compost on top of that and either plant in it or sow a cover crop (sometimes called green manure) for the summer instead of the plastic and mulch. Then you can turn it all in come fall.
http://tinyurl.com/62ho9
http://tinyurl.com/62enx
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Newt