My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves are so
deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed finds
the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones right
up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it melts,
I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and overflowing
along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry, but
still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.

Comments?

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves are so
deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed finds
the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones right
up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it melts,
I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and overflowing
along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry, but
still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.

Comments?



Agent Orange or the current commercial equivalent?

Lou

"LouB" wrote in message
...
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves are
so
deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed
finds
the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones
right
up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it
melts,
I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and
overflowing
along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry,
but
still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.

Comments?



Agent Orange or the current commercial equivalent?

Lou


I avoid weed killers, since so many animals use my yard as a dinner table,
but I might make an exception in this instance because once the area is
covered, nothing will be eating there unless there's a type of animal which
eats stones the size of ping pong balls.

LouB wrote:

Agent Orange or the current commercial equivalent?

what IS the current commerical equiv that you can buy
at Lowe's?

On Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:20:26 -0400, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves are so
deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed finds
the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones right
up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it melts,
I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and overflowing
along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry, but
still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.

Comments?



How about just grading the area so that water runs off the plastic
rather than ponding. Direct it away from the house.

If you wanted to get fancy, install a french drain system.

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves are
so
deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed finds
the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones right
up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it
melts,
I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and overflowing
along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry, but
still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.

Comments?


A course or three of paver blocks is a zillion times better than spending
your life cussing small stones.

On Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:09:44 -0500, wrote:

LouB wrote:

Agent Orange or the current commercial equivalent?

what IS the current commerical equiv that you can buy
at Lowe's?


2-4-D is still available, at least in Oregon. It was a component of
Agent Orange, along with 2-4-5-TP, if memory serves.

There are some other weed killers which proport to have an extended
effect for up to a year.

wrote:

LouB wrote:

Agent Orange or the current commercial equivalent?

what IS the current commerical equiv that you can buy
at Lowe's?

Tractor hydraulic fluid, and "purple" degreaser come to mind...

brooklyn1 wrote:
"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves are
so
deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed finds
the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones right
up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it
melts,
I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and overflowing
along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry, but
still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.

Comments?

Landscaping fabric allows water to go
through and inhibits weed growth. It
can be put under a layer of gravel
instead of plastic.

"brooklyn1" wrote in message
...

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves are
so
deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed
finds
the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones
right
up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it
melts,
I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and
overflowing
along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry,
but
still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.

Comments?


A course or three of paver blocks is a zillion times better than spending
your life cussing small stones.


That's an interesting idea. Could be disassembled like Legos if necessary,
too.

Art Todesco wrote:
brooklyn1 wrote:
"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves
are so
deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed
finds
the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones
right
up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it
melts,
I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and
overflowing
along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been
dry, but
still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with
Trex buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of
stones.

Comments?

Landscaping fabric allows water to go through and inhibits weed growth. It
can be put under a layer of gravel instead of plastic.

Why not a precast concrete or recycled pop bottle AC pad, tilted
slightly away from the house to prevent ponding? They come in several
sizes, and can pretty easily be slipped under the AC unit without
disconnecting it. May need a few shims under the coil box to keep it
level, but that is easy enough. If there is slack in the cables and
hoses, also a good idea to raise the box up a few inches.

--
aem sends...

"aemeijers" wrote in message
...
Art Todesco wrote:
brooklyn1 wrote:
"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves
are so
deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed
finds
the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones
right
up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it
melts,
I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and
overflowing
along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry,
but
still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.

Comments?

Landscaping fabric allows water to go through and inhibits weed growth.
It
can be put under a layer of gravel instead of plastic.

Why not a precast concrete or recycled pop bottle AC pad, tilted slightly
away from the house to prevent ponding? They come in several sizes, and
can pretty easily be slipped under the AC unit without disconnecting it.
May need a few shims under the coil box to keep it level, but that is easy
enough. If there is slack in the cables and hoses, also a good idea to
raise the box up a few inches.



That's what I have, one of those cast fiberglass like pads, I always thought
that was the manditory default, had one at my last house too. I'm sure it
would require a few strong backs to insert a pad after the fact:
http://i39.tinypic.com/m75dhc.jpg

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves are so
deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed finds
the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones right
up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it melts,
I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and overflowing
along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry, but
still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.

Comments?



You are right about the plastic being a bad idea. We have landscape
fabric, available in different strengths, with river rock on top and
used in similar areas where nothing grows. We have Trex on our finger
dock, about 7 years old. Full sun, all day, Florida. Concrete pavers
or black vinyl lawn edging work nicely around the rock and contain it well.

Hmm. A French drain. Does that mean it only works 30 hours a
week, drinks up all your red wine, and has a mistress on the
side?

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Charles" wrote in message
...

How about just grading the area so that water runs off the
plastic
rather than ponding. Direct it away from the house.

If you wanted to get fancy, install a french drain system.

"brooklyn1" wrote in message
...

"aemeijers" wrote in message
...
Art Todesco wrote:
brooklyn1 wrote:
"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
My central air conditioning unit is located in a spot where the eaves
are so
deep that even after lots of rain, it's still bone dry, but bindweed
finds
the area delightful and it's eating my air conditioner. I thought of
covering the whole area with plastic and then a few inches of stones
right
up to the foundation, but I have another concern. In winter, it's not
uncommon for several feet of snow to drift into that corner. When it
melts,
I'm not sure I want that much water ponding in the plastic and
overflowing
along the edges near the cinder block. The basement's always been dry,
but
still, something about the plastic idea seems iffy. So, some sort of
landscape fabric seems like a better option.

Regardless of the material on top, I'm thinking of edging it with Trex
buried with just enough above ground to contain 2-3 inches of stones.

Comments?

Landscaping fabric allows water to go through and inhibits weed growth.
It
can be put under a layer of gravel instead of plastic.

Why not a precast concrete or recycled pop bottle AC pad, tilted slightly
away from the house to prevent ponding? They come in several sizes, and
can pretty easily be slipped under the AC unit without disconnecting it.
May need a few shims under the coil box to keep it level, but that is
easy enough. If there is slack in the cables and hoses, also a good idea
to raise the box up a few inches.



That's what I have, one of those cast fiberglass like pads, I always
thought that was the manditory default, had one at my last house too. I'm
sure it would require a few strong backs to insert a pad after the fact:
http://i39.tinypic.com/m75dhc.jpg


I've got the same type of pad, but still, I'd like a barren area for a foot
or two around the thing.