Dumb Planting Questions

[amh]

19 hours ago, JohnAndSancho said:

I might have to find a cheap chemical solution for the wisteria. If it wasn't right against the house I'd just go Beavis and Butthead and set it on fire. 

Heh, heh, hmm, Fire! Fire!, Fire!

I do not like using glyphosate, but sometimes it is necessary. The good is that glyphosate will degrade fairly fast in a warm, humid environment, but the bad is that you will need to use the concentrated stuff on wisteria.

[JohnAndSancho]

2 hours ago, amh said:

Heh, heh, hmm, Fire! Fire!, Fire!

I do not like using glyphosate, but sometimes it is necessary. The good is that glyphosate will degrade fairly fast in a warm, humid environment, but the bad is that you will need to use the concentrated stuff on wisteria.

It's either that or dig some serious holes to get the rest of it and hope it didn't go under the foundation of the house. 

[JohnAndSancho]

So according to my brother, there's a row of red bricks underneath all of this grass and all of these weeds that connect the porch on the right to the patio on the left (out of the picture. My grandfather built a "mother in law" apartment for my great grandmother when he built this house). I've had cardboard down for, I dunno, a week? I googled and it told me it'll take months for this to smother the grass and it sounds like any _effective_ chemicals I use will make it unplantable for months, too. I've also read that using the tiller will just fling up all the seeds that are at ground level..

 

So another idea for you gardeners out there. I need to dig up the rest of the wisteria anyway, so can I just do that and fill in this hole and dump some mulch on top? Dig in the front of the bed until I find the bricks and stack some cinder blocks on top of them? I'm impatient but I'm also lazy and my health is crap. I'd really like to get some of these baby Sabals in the ground and I've got a pair of Washies in a brown truck on their way. I can butt more cardboard up against the house, there's plenty. 

 

This would mean finding another spot for the cycad or waiting until spring to plant it out, I'm fine either way. I'm guesstimating it's about 20ft wide by 4 feet deep, so how much mulch do y'all guesstimate I'd need? It's still ~$3 for a 2 cu/ft bag for pine bark if I can't find a logging company to just dump some in the yard. Probably wouldn't be a terrible idea to mix in some fresh topsoil and compost to my planned planting holes either. 

 

Sorry for the dumb questions, I've literally never planted a palm in mother earth. 

[amh]

You may want to look into chipdrop for free to cheap mulch. Between cardboard and a thick layer of mulch, the grass should be contained.

Herbicides will only need to be applied directly to the wisteria plant, so you could treat the wisteria and then plant your palms a few feet away.

Do not use aminopyralid!

[JohnAndSancho]

5 hours ago, amh said:

You may want to look into chipdrop for free to cheap mulch. Between cardboard and a thick layer of mulch, the grass should be contained.

Herbicides will only need to be applied directly to the wisteria plant, so you could treat the wisteria and then plant your palms a few feet away.

Do not use aminopyralid!

I looked at chipdrop and they apparently update their drops on their website and the closest guy to me waited a year. I think I'll just call the logging company directly, the mill in town shut down so everything is going to Cuba, Alabama. They've gotta be working close by because the trucks go down my road all day long now and nobody comes down this road unless they live here. Maybe I go explore tomorrow, but I've started manually clearing out this grass.

 

It's insane to me how much the grass and soil has built up. My grandfather built this house in 1990 and this flowerbed was lined with a row of red bricks saved from his old childhood home and I'm seriously digging 3" deep into dirt and roots before I hit these bricks. I think I'm going to dig a trench in front of it just to try to keep it from coming back. 

[JohnAndSancho]

@amh I posted another thread about this so my bad, but I found this in an add-on room along with all kinds of cool stuff I can use. I have no idea how old it is. Would you use this on the wisteria roots? My other option to test it is to draw obscenities in the field far away from where I walk Sancho and maybe in the overgrown ditches. 

[amh]

Just now, JohnAndSancho said:

@amh I posted another thread about this so my bad, but I found this in an add-on room along with all kinds of cool stuff I can use. I have no idea how old it is. Would you use this on the wisteria roots? My other option to test it is to draw obscenities in the field far away from where I walk Sancho and maybe in the overgrown ditches. 

It's a pre-emergent used to prevent seed germination, but I do not know how it would affect wisteria roots.

You could try writing something this fall before the winter weeds grow, and if you get in trouble, just blame it on one of the other Barts.

[JohnAndSancho]

Just now, amh said:

It's a pre-emergent used to prevent seed germination, but I do not know how it would affect wisteria roots.

You could try writing something this fall before the winter weeds grow, and if you get in trouble, just blame it on one of the other Barts.

😂😂😂 I love a good Simpsons reference. I found a post hole digger too so that'll make things so much easier. My Washies should get here tomorrow. I bought 3 bags of pine mulch and a bag of Wal Marts finest organic garden soil and hopefully my dumb ass remembers to throw some fertilizer down in the hole. 

 

I'll get pics after the sun comes up. Would you recommend running a tiller in front of the bed? I've heard good things and bad things about them. 

[amh]

2 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

😂😂😂 I love a good Simpsons reference. I found a post hole digger too so that'll make things so much easier. My Washies should get here tomorrow. I bought 3 bags of pine mulch and a bag of Wal Marts finest organic garden soil and hopefully my dumb ass remembers to throw some fertilizer down in the hole. 

 

I'll get pics after the sun comes up. Would you recommend running a tiller in front of the bed? I've heard good things and bad things about them. 

I can probably recall a classic Simpsons or King Of The Hill reference for any subject.

It appears that you have a good plan here. 

Are you wanting to use the tiller to break up the soil or kill grass?

BTW, there could be pipes or other utilities underground, so I would be very careful of using a tiller near the house.

[JohnAndSancho]

1 minute ago, amh said:

I can probably recall a classic Simpsons or King Of The Hill reference for any subject.

It appears that you have a good plan here. 

Are you wanting to use the tiller to break up the soil or kill grass?

BTW, there could be pipes or other utilities underground, so I would be very careful of using a tiller near the house.

Only the water line and septic tank are buried, and I know where they are so I think we're gravy there. 

 

I do appreciate all of the info. I've never grown anything other than palms in pots so this is fun. I just wish I didn't pick the hottest day of the year (so far) to start digging. And it looks like throwing out all of that cardboard was a waste of time unless the grass is easier to break up under there after a week of getting rained on. 

This bed is going to look sunken in after all the years of grass growing up around it. I'm glad I've got water loving palms going in there. 

[amh]

3 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Only the water line and septic tank are buried, and I know where they are so I think we're gravy there. 

 

I do appreciate all of the info. I've never grown anything other than palms in pots so this is fun. I just wish I didn't pick the hottest day of the year (so far) to start digging. And it looks like throwing out all of that cardboard was a waste of time unless the grass is easier to break up under there after a week of getting rained on. 

This bed is going to look sunken in after all the years of grass growing up around it. I'm glad I've got water loving palms going in there. 

I've been killing plants in pot and in the ground for over 30 years, so learn from my mistakes. Like you mention, it's the hot time of year, so be prepared to dig one hole a day; right now I have to take a break every 45 minutes to an hour of work to cool down and hydrate. 

Grass will be a continuous problem for you, so you will want to prioritize keeping it off of the palms. Cardboard is very effective if you layer it thick, but being in a warm, humid environment, it will break down fast. Some people use a flat shovel to scrape away the grass and top layer of soil.

[JohnAndSancho]

6 minutes ago, amh said:

I've been killing plants in pot and in the ground for over 30 years, so learn from my mistakes. Like you mention, it's the hot time of year, so be prepared to dig one hole a day; right now I have to take a break every 45 minutes to an hour of work to cool down and hydrate. 

Grass will be a continuous problem for you, so you will want to prioritize keeping it off of the palms. Cardboard is very effective if you layer it thick, but being in a warm, humid environment, it will break down fast. Some people use a flat shovel to scrape away the grass and top layer of soil.

Yeah, I am using a hoe. I guess you could say I got really sweaty and dirty doing some hoeing. So far I've found what works best is to yell HASSAN CHOP and put some stank on it, then go in there with the heavy rake to clear it out. The worst part is the tall crap right against the house. 

I'm realizing now that I'm gonna need more dirt. I bought 6 cu ft of mulch and 2 cu ft of dirt and I am absolutely not using my good potting mix in the yard. 

[amh]

15 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Yeah, I am using a hoe. I guess you could say I got really sweaty and dirty doing some hoeing. So far I've found what works best is to yell HASSAN CHOP and put some stank on it, then go in there with the heavy rake to clear it out. The worst part is the tall crap right against the house. 

I'm realizing now that I'm gonna need more dirt. I bought 6 cu ft of mulch and 2 cu ft of dirt and I am absolutely not using my good potting mix in the yard. 

I love homonyms and double entendres, which is probably what kept me out of the good schools.

I'm not sure what to do for the grass near the house, but I would probably use a weedeater and then cover it with something.

Yeah, you will never have enough dirt for a project. You need to start composting and worm farming.

[JohnAndSancho]

3 minutes ago, amh said:

I love homonyms. 

I'm not sure what to do for the grass near the house, but I would probably use a weedeater and then cover it with something.

Yeah, you will never have enough dirt for a project. You need to start composting and worm farming.

I'm still worried about the cats. I guess I need to do some research on composting. I need to trim a bunch of oak and crepe myrtles and cedars and there's a bunch of stuff in front of the old shed I want to cut down and just have a massive bonfire... If I could get any use out of soda bottles and cat poop I'm set for life. 

[amh]

34 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

I'm still worried about the cats. I guess I need to do some research on composting. I need to trim a bunch of oak and crepe myrtles and cedars and there's a bunch of stuff in front of the old shed I want to cut down and just have a massive bonfire... If I could get any use out of soda bottles and cat poop I'm set for life. 

The cats shouldn't be too much of a problem, from my experience, the little jerks only like to destroy chamaedoreas.

I don't think there is any value in cat turds or soda bottles, at this time, but if you switch to cans, there is 75 cents to a dollar worth of scrap every 3 12 packs.

[JohnAndSancho]

5 minutes ago, amh said:

The cats shouldn't be too much of a problem, from my experience, the little jerks only like to destroy chamaedoreas.

I don't think there is any value in cat turds or soda bottles, at this time, but if you switch to cans, there is 75 cents to a dollar worth of scrap every 3 12 packs.

These cats are ruthless. I had a bunch of potted rare Sabals and every one became a toilet. My chamaedorea Plumosa (RIP) became a chew toy. My spindle was a toilet before he came inside. Before I put it in a chair and weighed it down with rocks and bricks, they had pulled my Butia x Lyto over and pulled all the dirt out of the pot 3 times. 

I read they hate strong smelling plants like basil and lavender and citronella, maybe I need to invest in those. Or there's still the electric barbed wire my grandfather used to keep deer out of his garden. I've already threatened to throw a couple of them in a hole. 

[amh]

31 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

These cats are ruthless. I had a bunch of potted rare Sabals and every one became a toilet. My chamaedorea Plumosa (RIP) became a chew toy. My spindle was a toilet before he came inside. Before I put it in a chair and weighed it down with rocks and bricks, they had pulled my Butia x Lyto over and pulled all the dirt out of the pot 3 times. 

I read they hate strong smelling plants like basil and lavender and citronella, maybe I need to invest in those. Or there's still the electric barbed wire my grandfather used to keep deer out of his garden. I've already threatened to throw a couple of them in a hole. 

Yeah, they are horrible. Do the cats dislike mint or thyme? The low growing herbs could carpet the area and repel the cats.

[JohnAndSancho]

13 minutes ago, amh said:

Yeah, they are horrible. Do the cats dislike mint or thyme? The low growing herbs could carpet the area and repel the cats.

I don't know. I've never tried planted anything to keep them away. I know they dislike brooms and I know they dislike my size 11 feet. I read they disliked aluminum foil and coffee grounds and neither of those phased them. 

[amh]

Just now, JohnAndSancho said:

I don't know. I've never tried planted anything to keep them away. I know they dislike brooms and I know they dislike my size 11 feet. I read they disliked aluminum foil and coffee grounds and neither of those phased them. 

You need a big mean dog or a bunch of coyotes, great horned owls or maybe badgers.

Unfortunately, just not feeding them wont work.

[JohnAndSancho]

Just now, amh said:

You need a big mean dog or a bunch of coyotes, great horned owls or maybe badgers.

Unfortunately, just not feeding them wont work.

Mom and my brother love them. 

 

They don't love them enough to feed them regularly or clean up after them, but they love them. 

[amh]

39 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Mom and my brother love them. 

 

They don't love them enough to feed them regularly or clean up after them, but they love them. 

Have you looked for any TNR(trap, neuter, release) programs in your area? Some vets will do it for free and it will help keep the population from expanding.

[JohnAndSancho]

3 minutes ago, amh said:

Have you looked for any TNR(trap, neuter, release) programs in your area? Some vets will do it for free and it will help keep the population from expanding.

Yep. And they don't exist here. Our local shelter closed due to lack of funding and lack of adoptions. 

[amh]

24 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Yep. And they don't exist here. Our local shelter closed due to lack of funding and lack of adoptions. 

You're gonna need a big dog or guerrilla plant a bunch of catnip on someone else's property.

[JohnAndSancho]

4 minutes ago, amh said:

You're gonna need a big dog or guerrilla plant a bunch of catnip on someone else's property.

I came really close to bringing home another dog, but I don't think Sancho would have gotten along with him. Plus it's another mouth to feed and more flea pills. And they don't care about catnip. 

 

I had an idea to build a potato gun to launch cat food as far away from the house as possible. And unfortunately there's only 3 houses on this road, sooooooo yeah. 

[JohnAndSancho]

Welp I planned to wake up early and get out there before it got too hot, but that just didn't happen. I also got a little less grass dug up than I thought I did. It's still tons, but less than I thought. 

 

The grass that I laid the cardboard over is a lot harder to break up. There's also more gravel on that side which makes it even more fun. 

 

Trying to dig up 25+ years worth of grass out of a flowerbed in the summer in Mississippi may be one of the stupidest ideas I've ever had. 

 

I think what I'm gonna do is wait a few hours for it to cool off, use the post hole digger for the Washies and get them in the ground with enough fresh soil and fertilizer, and let the cardboard keep working in the meantime. Maybe even lay out more if I feel up to it. I can make it all pretty later. 

[JohnAndSancho]

Progress so far. I just need to remind myself that it doesn't all need to get done at once and not to push myself too hard. I am not a professional landscaper, my health isn't great, and this is at least 25 years worth of growth and neglect I'm trying to pretty up.