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I'm killing my loropetalum!
Well, not on purpose!
We just moved to Alabama from the Great Lakes area and have a large lot with Bermuda turf out front and woods in the back. My problem is the planting areas around the house are clay and its the kind where it's rock hard when it's dry and you sink into it when it's wet. The builder put loropetalum and creeping juniper at the front of the house (and he says he added topsoil) but several of the loropetalum and one juniper looks half dead. They are on the north side of the house but most of the bad ones are far enough out to get some sun. What if anything can I try to save these plants? BTW, irrigation system and underground utilities run through the beds at the house and along the planting beds bordering my neighbors property lines so rototilling is out. We also sit about 100 ft. back from the street, so there is lots of ground for us to cover. Any other suggestions for what besides trees grow in these conditions would be welcomed. Jo |
#2
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I'm killing my loropetalum!
BTW, irrigation system and underground utilities run through the beds at the
house and along the planting beds bordering my neighbors property lines so rototilling is out. We also sit about 100 ft. back from the street, so there is lots of ground for us to cover. Any other suggestions for what besides trees grow in these conditions would be welcomed. I deal with the same type of soil in the Dallas area, and neither of the plants you mentioned will do well in it as is. I dont agree that tilling is out of the question. If you have the room to do it, raised beds are the best solution. If not, check and see how deep the sprinkler pipes are. Electrical and plumbing lines should be at least 2 feet deep, tillers only go down 8-9 inches. Call the phone and cable companies to mark their lines. In Texas we have a 1-800 number that coordinates marking all utility lines free. In new houses in our area, sprinkler pipes are generally put in at least 18", just watch for the heads. Use compost instead of topsoil if you till it, use a premixed planting mix if you raise the beds. Good luck, Bryan |
#3
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I'm killing my loropetalum!
----- Original Message ----- From: "bryan lafleur" Newsgroups: rec.gardens Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 7:41 AM Subject: I'm killing my loropetalum! I deal with the same type of soil in the Dallas area, and neither of the plants you mentioned will do well in it as is. I dont agree that tilling is out of the question. If you have the room to do it, raised beds are the best solution. I think this is the best solution for some of my areas. We had a neighbor bring us a pick axe after he watched us trying to dig a hole for a plant with a shovel. He informed us our lot was used to store gravel and sand piles before our house was built. Apparently front and center of my lawn was the gravel pile. Maybe I'll have an easier time when I find the old sand pile. If not, check and see how deep the sprinkler pipes are. Electrical and plumbing lines should be at least 2 feet deep, tillers only go down 8-9 inches. Call the phone and cable companies to mark their lines. In Texas we have a 1-800 number that coordinates marking all utility lines free. In new houses in our area, sprinkler pipes are generally put in at least 18", just watch for the heads. Our sprinklers are at least 8" and the phone is between 2 to 8" (they cross sprinkler lines) I watched them bury the phone line in my planting bed so even though the line dodges a large rock and some trees, I do have a general idea of where it is. I'll try to get plumbing, gas, and electric to mark their lines. Tilling even 2 or 3 of my 5 areas would greatly reduce the backstrain aspect involved. Use compost instead of topsoil if you till it, use a premixed planting mix if you raise the beds. Will do. I wonder if adding sand would help, or would I just be making cement? Anyone know a proper ratio of compost to sand if this is a good idea? Thanks for your ideas Bryan. Jo, who will not complain about midwest soil ever again. Good luck, Bryan |
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