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#1
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Converting a lawn into a garden
Hi,
I have a fairly small (abt 15' x 12') fenced-in area in my back yard which I would like to use as a garden. It was presumably a vegetable garden earlier, fenced in because of a high deer population. But now it's covered with grass and weeds. I'd like to use it for a vegetable garden now, but I'm not sure of the best way to convert it. I'm sure that renting a roto-tiller and tilling it is part of the solution, but I'm not sure if that will kill all the grass and weeds. The roots tend to go down 6"-1' -- maybe I have Zoysia . The soil is also fairly rocky, but I doubt there's anything I can do about that except to avoid planting carrots and other tubers. Also, can anyone recommend a good and cheap landscaping barrier to put around the garden and keep the lawn out? Thanks, Topher |
#2
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Converting a lawn into a garden
topher wrote in
: Hi, I have a fairly small (abt 15' x 12') fenced-in area in my back yard which I would like to use as a garden. It was presumably a vegetable garden earlier, fenced in because of a high deer population. But now it's covered with grass and weeds. I'd like to use it for a vegetable garden now, but I'm not sure of the best way to convert it. I'm sure that renting a roto-tiller and tilling it is part of the solution, but I'm not sure if that will kill all the grass and weeds. The roots tend to go down 6"-1' -- maybe I have Zoysia . The soil is also fairly rocky, but I doubt there's anything I can do about that except to avoid planting carrots and other tubers. Also, can anyone recommend a good and cheap landscaping barrier to put around the garden and keep the lawn out? Thanks, Topher You have a couple of options. #1 you could use a product to kill everything (like Round Up) wait a couple of weeks and then plant. #2 You can cover the entire area with several layers of newspaper and wait. This will kill everything but you won't be able to plant until next year. #3 You could pull, cut all the weeds, turn the soil and mulch well after planting to retard weed growth. This requires some weeding but it will minimize the work. Chris |
#3
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Converting a lawn into a garden
topher wrote:
I have a fairly small (abt 15' x 12') fenced-in area in my back yard which I would like to use as a garden. It was presumably a vegetable garden earlier, fenced in because of a high deer population. But now it's covered with grass and weeds. I'd like to use it for a vegetable garden now, but I'm not sure of the best way to convert it. Spray everything thoroughly with Roundup, wiat for it to start to dir then weedwhack it all. Then lay layers of newspaper 10-15 sheets thick over the mess and wet them. Spread a 3-4 inch thick layer of some sort of compost, mulch, wood chips,or clean straw (or all of the above) wet it all thoroughly and let it sit for a while. pullany weeds that emerge,of course. Then start setting out your plants right through the mulch and paper and just keep adding mulch as the old stuff decomposes. Tsu -- To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection. - Jules Henri Poincaré |
#4
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Converting a lawn into a garden
wasted ill guided step in an otherwise intelligent post
On Mon, 05 May 2003 15:17:55 -0700, Tsu Dho Nimh wrote: Spray everything thoroughly with Roundup "Nature, left alone, is in perfect balance. Harmful insects and plant diseases are always present, but do not occur in nature to an extent which requires the use of poisonous chemicals. The sensible approach to disease and insect control is to grow sturdy crops in a healthy environment." Masanobu Fukuoka, One Straw Revolution--1978 |
#5
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Converting a lawn into a garden
"topher" wrote in message ... Hi, I have a fairly small (abt 15' x 12') fenced-in area in my back yard which I would like to use as a garden. .... but I'm not sure of the best way to convert it. I'm sure that renting a roto-tiller and tilling it is part of the solution, but I'm not sure if that will kill all the grass and weeds. Remove the grass with a sod cutter, for the most weed free result. Bob |
#6
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Converting a lawn into a garden
A pretty labor-less solution was described to me at a seminar last weekend.
Cover the grass with 4 to 5 sheets of newspaper followed by 4 inches of hardwood mulch. Plant 6 weeks later through the mulch and paper. By leaving the decomposing grass in place - as opposed to removing sod - you're jump starting the soil with a rich nutrient base. I'm going to try this technique this weekend. BP. |
#7
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Converting a lawn into a garden
AuralFeast wrote:
A pretty labor-less solution was described to me at a seminar last weekend. Cover the grass with 4 to 5 sheets of newspaper followed by 4 inches of hardwood mulch. Plant 6 weeks later through the mulch and paper. By leaving the decomposing grass in place - as opposed to removing sod - you're jump starting the soil with a rich nutrient base. I'm going to try this technique this weekend. This is what I've been doing, except I use the free leaf mold that the county provides instead of hardwood mulch. However, I wait a minimum of 6 months, and normally a year before planting. Suja |
#8
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Converting a lawn into a garden
not to mention if you till or even remove the sod the seeds that were buried will now
germinate. Ingrid (AuralFeast) wrote: A pretty labor-less solution was described to me at a seminar last weekend. Cover the grass with 4 to 5 sheets of newspaper followed by 4 inches of hardwood mulch. Plant 6 weeks later through the mulch and paper. By leaving the decomposing grass in place - as opposed to removing sod - you're jump starting the soil with a rich nutrient base. I'm going to try this technique this weekend. BP. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.com Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make. |
#9
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Converting a lawn into a garden
not to mention if you till or even remove the sod the seeds that were buried
will now germinate. I have had good results with removing sod, planting whatever I am going to plant, and then topping with at least 10 cm. of bark mulch. |
#10
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Converting a lawn into a garden
Bill Spohn wrote:
not to mention if you till or even remove the sod the seeds that were buried will now germinate. I have had good results with removing sod, planting whatever I am going to plant, and then topping with at least 10 cm. of bark mulch. Converting lawn to garden is not easy unless you dig it all out and replace it with new soil, too many roots and seeds. There are are couple thing you can do if you don't want replace everything, till it frequently turn the seeds up let them germinate, till them under till more up. Step 2, cover garden with black plastic, remove, till, replace. Now IF you feel you have to plant this year get ready for continuous weedy, do not plan a vacation this year, you'll be in this grass-WEEDING. You can cut down by mulching or black plastic the rows and/or between the hills. Wait a year and you'll have a lot easier time of it. Kevin |
#11
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Converting a lawn into a garden
wrote in message ... not to mention if you till or even remove the sod the seeds that were buried will now germinate. Ingrid You can always use Preen or the generic equivalent. |
#12
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Converting a lawn into a garden
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#13
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Converting a lawn into a garden
Hi,
Thanks to all for the input. I see there are lots of ways to do it. I also see that I should have done this last Fall... Oh, well. I think I'll try overturning the soil, mulching it well, planting, and prepare for a lot of weeding. No, I never let the grass grow more than about 5-6 inches, but there's a lot more than just grass in that plot. :-( I also tried rolling up the sod with a shovel but quickly abandoned the attempt since my efforts were not rewarded. Other questions: How do I let my own plants come up through the mulch? I guess I'd make divets down to the soil and plant "accurately" within them? Also, is it better in this case to overturn the soil with a shovel or with a roto-tiller? Thanks again, Topher Tom Jaszewski wrote: On Wed, 07 May 2003 15:52:15 GMT, wrote: if you till or even remove the sod the seeds that were buried will now germinate. you mean you let your grass grow tall enough to seed? In fescue that 8-14 inches. "Nature, left alone, is in perfect balance. Harmful insects and plant diseases are always present, but do not occur in nature to an extent which requires the use of poisonous chemicals. The sensible approach to disease and insect control is to grow sturdy crops in a healthy environment." Masanobu Fukuoka, One Straw Revolution--1978 |
#14
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Converting a lawn into a garden
Converting lawn to garden is not easy unless you dig it all out and
replace it with new soil, too many roots and seeds. There is no gurantee bringing in soil will be better, and in many cases it can be a lot worse, they've done something to it. Bryan |
#15
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Converting a lawn into a garden
topher wrote:
Hi, Snip to questions Other questions: How do I let my own plants come up through the mulch? I guess I'd make divets down to the soil and plant "accurately" within them? Also, is it better in this case to overturn the soil with a shovel or with a roto-tiller? Either both are a lot of work. With a tiller start LOW and increase the depth making repeated passes. Turning the soil by hand is best done with a digging fork (IMHO)((also see thread on NO TIME FOR POOR QUALITY TOOLS) short version; buy a craftsman fork so when you break it, you can REPLACE it). The advantage to digging is you can seperate out most of the root. You also can do what is called double digging. That is where you dig down about 2', but that can also be done for next year when you have more time. Some plants need to have the soil loosened to greater depth. I have DUG my gardens for years. You have to do it a little at a time. Turn a quarter of it and plant the earliest things you have. Put plastic or mulch the rows immediately. For vine corps form the hills with a cupped tops to collect the water, cover with plastic, cut holes in the plastic at the top of the hill, and plant through the plastic. As soon a you have an empty space this fall double dig it and cover with plastic. Thanks again, Topher |
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