neftv
join:2000-10-01
Broomall, PA
 ·Broadvox Direct
| Cutting difficult grass
I have a arrangement in my backyard. My mom planted some shrubs that almost like small trees that are like 5 to 10 feet apart from one another. This is for an area of 25ft by 20ft or so. I was thinking of creating an island of mulch or small stone (not sure which) that would cover the approximate 25x20 area so I don't have to weed wack in between then have to run the mower through that. Now being that there is grass I don't think you just put mulch over it is that some kind of prep for this? Does it make sense to do this?
What I am trying to accomplish is lessen cutting time with weed wacker and lawn mower in this particular part of the yard by eliminating the grass. Suggestions? |
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sdgthy
@optonline.net
| A ground cover?
If you want to mulch, cut the grass as low as possible and lay down a few layers of newspaper (or even cardboard) before the mulch. That'll keep grass or weeds from growing through the mulch until they're dead and will eventually decompose. |
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natedj
Elected
Premium
join:2001-06-06
Columbia, SC
 ·Earthlink Cable Mo..
| reply to neftv
Yeah, what sdghty said, but i will use yard fabric in lieu of newspaper. just buy a roll of yard fabric and cut slits in it where the plants are located and then use some ground staples to anchor the fabric down to the ground. The grass below it will eventually die. You won't have to cut that area any more but you'll be left with the task if edging around the borders so that it will look pleasant.
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sdgthy
@optonline.net
 from:
Rxdoxx 
| The problem with yard fabric, aka landscaping cloth, is that weeds will eventually root through it and become a major project to remove to eliminate the weeds. |
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jack b
Gone Fishing
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join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
clubs:
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| Chemical warfare, AKA Roundup, or a splash of boiling water will handle any weeds that do manage to grow in the mulch area.
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
| said by jack b :Chemical warfare, AKA Roundup, or a splash of boiling water will handle any weeds that do manage to grow in the mulch area. Or just pull them. Properly applied thick enough (3-4") there is very little for the roots to really grab a hold of. |
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mityfowl
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX
| reply to neftv
Draw your flower bed edge using a hose for an outline.
Apply Roundup to the area you want to remove the grass from being especially care to to keep any overspray of your moms plant. The roundup will probably kill her desired trees/bushes too.
Wait 2 weeks, the weed eat to the dirt, then place mulch on top. You're done. |
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Pacrat
Old and Cranky
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-10
Cortland, OH
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to neftv
You can forego the landscape fabric, or the newspapers, or the cardboard, and just mulch the hell out of the area. The grass will die out rather quickly. What I would do, though, is use a straight-bladed edging shovel and dig a 3-4" deep "V" groove around the perimeter of the area you're mulching. It will define the area and it will also allow for a few inches of mulch to occupy the edges and keep the grass from "sneaking" through where it is the thinnest. I created an "island" planter a few years ago to accomplish just what you're attempting to do... reduce the lawnmower maneuvering around the plantings. You might experience a few blades of grass, sneaking through here and there, or an occasional weed, but a small spray bottle of Round-Up will make short work of the intruders. There's really no need to spray the whole area... spot spraying will do just fine.
Think about it. If just a few leaves laying on your lawn can create dead areas, what do you think 3-4" of mulch will do? Just don't skimp on the depth of the mulch. Make sure you get at least 3-4" all over. Not that the use of a landscape fabric is bad... or anything else. It's just not really necessary. 
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I was born at night... but not last night! |
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neftv
join:2000-10-01
Broomall, PA
·Broadvox Direct
| wow it seems like I got a lot of options from people here. I was thinking instead of making a V around the perimeter I would just make a slit in the ground just so that I could use those plastic/vinyl landscape edge things that are black.
I not sure would the edge things go deep enough to prevent weeds from creeping in underneath?
I do have a roll of landscape fabric left over from putting some down under the deck so I might just use that up anyway. Perhaps I put two layers down?
So it sounds like I just cut the grass real short and put 4 inches of mulch and that will be enough to kill of the weeds. I seen that rubber mulch is that any good? And how about preventing any bugs from making the mulch their home? |
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Rxdoxx
Premium,Mod
join:2000-11-03
Middle River, MD
clubs: 
 ·Verizon FIOS
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Washington & Balti..
| It is not just weeds. The weed block fabric that was put down here created an incredible living area for ants. Something else to think about.
I wouldn't go with stones or any kind of gravel, it is a b*tch to get rid of if you don't want it anymore, and the stones tend to end up all over the place in the long run.
Edging it and finding a ground cover would be nice.
Want something other than an ivy type because that will climb the shrubs.
Thyme is a possibility, grows thick, spreads and has a great smell. you still will get some breakthrough weeds.
Hosta eventually will crowd out everything. Its root mass controls things ground level, and the thick leaves block all sunlight from reaching the ground.
»images.google.com/images?hl=en&q···fW94WHDA
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neftv
join:2000-10-01
Broomall, PA
·Broadvox Direct
| Something like this »www.americanhostasociety.org/ima···play.jpg would look nice but it looks like a lot of work. Being that I have several shrub/trees with in close to one another I was thinking of making it like a park setting because I have a couple of park benches I could use to put in the middle of it.
That landscape fabric can host ants underneath, really? I have the fabric under the outdoor deck. I not seen ants in the area of the deck but I sure hope they not under the fabric. I have a crawl area under the bedrooms in the house that is dirt and I covered it with thick plastic.
Would plastic work outdoors in my scenario? |
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Pacrat
Old and Cranky
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-10
Cortland, OH
·RoadRunner Cable
| All the plastic edging that I have seen, lately, has a couple of "flanges" along the bottom and about halfway up to anchor the edging into the ground (picture an upside down "F") . A simple slit isn't going to get it installed properly. It really doesn't take that much effort to put the "V" in with an edging shovel. That way, the mulch is 3-4" thick right at the edge. It also help contain the material from spreading out into the yard when you mow.
As far as bugs making a home in the mulch... most of the mulch around here is treated somewhat to deter that. It's the reason new mulch deliveries stink so bad for a few days. I ride a bike every morning around the neighborhoods, and the smelll of new mulch just permeates the air on a nice calm morning. After it's down a few days it isn't too bad, but until then... it could be annoying to some people.
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I was born at night... but not last night! |
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mityfowl
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX
| reply to neftv
I like the green metal edging, easy to install (water and a sledge hammer)and looks nice and curvy. I've found that it lasts about 15-20 years.
I don't think that you have creeping grass there so if your budget can't afford edging up front you can just cut it out with a sharp shooter spade.
Don't skimp on mulch! 3"-4" of cypress or cedar work well here (don't use pine bark), won't float away, last for years before it has to be renewed. This part will be a pretty significant expense.
Good luck, send us a pic. |
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jack b
Gone Fishing
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join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
clubs:
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| reply to neftv
One more tip: don't buy packaged/bagged mulch anywhere. Most of that stuff can contain mold and other equally undesirable stuff.
Get yourself a couple of yards bulk delivery from a local nursery or other garden supply place. You'll be mulch better off on the long run.
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aurgathor
join:2002-12-01
Lynnwood, WA | reply to neftv
Home Depot, and probably Lowes has a round, plastic ground cover you can put around trees. I've used it, and it works great.
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sdgthy
@optonline.net
| reply to neftv
I hate the plastic edging, do a search on everedge for the good stuff, or do the V trench thing. Don't use plastic, it'll block water from getting to the existing plants and stress those.
If you want to explore ground covers this may help:
»www.entomology.cornell.edu/Exten···ain.html |
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Rxdoxx
Premium,Mod
join:2000-11-03
Middle River, MD
clubs:
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Washington & Balti..
1 edit | reply to neftv
Hosta may be a little set-up work, but after that it is pretty maintenance free.
I have a 30' bed running along one side of the house (former owner's work).
I never have to weed it, I run the lawn mower real close along the front which "trims" the foliage that is encroaching over the grass, and have sprayed Sevin there maybe once a year for ant control. So it is no real work, and absolutely will solve your grass cutting problem.
As to fabric and ants. I had termites a little over 3 years ago. Treatment company came out and trenched/treated the house perimeter. Fabric was down in the front garden bed. The technician had to pull up fabric to do his work, and it was so amazing that he came got me to see it.
I saw at least a square yard of solid ants under what he had flapped up. Since then I'm removing it every time I encounter it. As sgdthy mentioned above, there are weeds (like wiregrass) that will penetrate it, making them impossible to really pull up, have to take the fabric out along with the root networks through it.
Fabric has its used (short term) like tilling the garden and using it as a temporary cover to keep weeds away until I plant it, but I'm no fan of it... looks good initially but more problems than worth in the long run.
Edit
Second picture here is where I'm placing hoste to solve a problem area at the back corner fenced area of the property
»Re: Veggie Garden underway Picture is from months ago, it is developing, and eventually I will not have to go back there and weed-wack the jungle that area becomes by mid-summer.
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Was a Cruise Fanatic, one cruise on Princess cured me. Bleah |
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