New garden, old dirt
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 12:54 pm
I am looking an unused portion of my back yard. It has been various things over the years (before my taking over), and I have even tilled/had a garden there. Now has little grass, just weedy. Behind it is a fence with overgrown nasty wisteria (doesn't even bloom!). I plan to attack it, and try to get some of the runners (roots as big as your thumb) that come out into the yard.
Rather than till (don't have a tiller), thought to mow, if needed, put down newspaper or even cardboard. This would be about 4' x 10'. Put some bagged manure over that, then dirt. There is a growing pile of dirt tumped from container pots next to the area. Sometimes I fork leaves into that pile. The pile of container dirt is a mix of top soil, compost, old miracle grow, you name it!
There are also a few broken bags of whatever around that could be tossed in. A couple of those have ants. Correct me if I am wrong, but a few ants spread out seem to be OK, huge numbers a problem. If a bag looks especially active could spread out under the pecan trees where not much of anything grows.
The ground is uneven, so the build up will create a few inches above base and be level. I can then add some new topsoil, cotton burr compost etc. I don't plan to border this, just slope on the edge, and will be able to mow all around.
Plant, and once plants going, mulch.
I am looking for low maintainence, not fussy, not prone to bugs etc. Perfect garden, right?! The lot is on a slight slope, this being the lower side. There's no standing water, but can be damp with heavy rains. Planting plans in a new post.
Rather than till (don't have a tiller), thought to mow, if needed, put down newspaper or even cardboard. This would be about 4' x 10'. Put some bagged manure over that, then dirt. There is a growing pile of dirt tumped from container pots next to the area. Sometimes I fork leaves into that pile. The pile of container dirt is a mix of top soil, compost, old miracle grow, you name it!
There are also a few broken bags of whatever around that could be tossed in. A couple of those have ants. Correct me if I am wrong, but a few ants spread out seem to be OK, huge numbers a problem. If a bag looks especially active could spread out under the pecan trees where not much of anything grows.
The ground is uneven, so the build up will create a few inches above base and be level. I can then add some new topsoil, cotton burr compost etc. I don't plan to border this, just slope on the edge, and will be able to mow all around.
Plant, and once plants going, mulch.
I am looking for low maintainence, not fussy, not prone to bugs etc. Perfect garden, right?! The lot is on a slight slope, this being the lower side. There's no standing water, but can be damp with heavy rains. Planting plans in a new post.