I've had it up to here watering my full-sun parking strip and
ever-thirsty St. Aug there (and it's not even August yet!!!) What's the
optimum time of year to dig it up, fumigate (to get rid of the
intermixed Bermuda), and put in low maintainance xeriscape? I would
guess that cooler season is right, to get some roots in before summer,
but fall or spring? Would really like some rosemary, and maybe a little
color, but I'm not that particular.

Doug Lassiter wrote:
I've had it up to here watering my full-sun parking strip and
ever-thirsty St. Aug there (and it's not even August yet!!!) What's the
optimum time of year to dig it up, fumigate (to get rid of the
intermixed Bermuda), and put in low maintainance xeriscape? I would

I think now it's a good time to do the following: buy a bunch of black
plastic. Cover your grass with it, use rocks to keep in place. Leave all
summer. Come fall, when it's cool enough to plant, the grass should be
gone.

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
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Victor Martinez wrote:

I think now it's a good time to do the following: buy a bunch of black
plastic. Cover your grass with it, use rocks to keep in place. Leave all
summer. Come fall, when it's cool enough to plant, the grass should be
gone.



The Bermuda won't be ...

Doug Lassiter wrote:
The Bermuda won't be ...

I've never heard of a plant that can survive months without sunlight.

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
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On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 03:00:52 GMT, Victor Martinez
wrote:

Doug Lassiter wrote:
The Bermuda won't be ...

I've never heard of a plant that can survive months without sunlight.

It is also the heat collected by the black plastic. Using scrap
pieces of 2 inch by 4 inch lumber to hold it down around the edges is
better than rocks as it provides a better seal.

Rusty Mase
Austin, Texas

On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 22:48:08 -0500, Rusty Mase wrote:

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 03:00:52 GMT, Victor Martinez
wrote:

Doug Lassiter wrote:
The Bermuda won't be ...

I've never heard of a plant that can survive months without sunlight.

It is also the heat collected by the black plastic. Using scrap
pieces of 2 inch by 4 inch lumber to hold it down around the edges is
better than rocks as it provides a better seal.

Rusty Mase
Austin, Texas

Actually, clear plastic does a better job of solarization and burning
out bermuda. However, bermuda has the ability to lay dormant deep in
the soil, up to 18 inches down. I removed my turf from that strip
several years ago. I planted Gaura lindheimerii. It is doing very
well and three times a season I cut it all back and it blooms again
and again. I also have bluebonnets naturalized, as well as nigella,
larkspur Penisetum setaceum, and Muhly lindheimerii. It's a bit too
wild for this stark, white neighborhood!

This fall I'm removing the G.linheimerii and putting in rosemary,
Mexican bush sage, lantana and Stipa tenuissima. The difference this
time is that I will plant in larger stands, not interspersed. It will
look cleaner that way.

You can definitely give a good watering now and remove the turf.
Cover the soil with clear plastic for the month of August and add back
in some quality compost and plant your selections. The only plants
which you should avoid planting in the summer are either bare root, or
balled and burlap trees or shrubs. All container plants can go in,
but will definitely need supplemental water for the balance of the
summer. So, I'd say to remove now, wait till fall for planting. It's
really very hot to be doing such work later than 10am, so be aware of
that.

Victoria