My frugal methods :)
farmerkevin
10 years ago
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DirtandYarn
10 years agofarmerkevin
10 years agoRelated Discussions
Favorite Frugal Method of Weed Control?
Comments (2)Around the perennials, any combination of newspaper, leaves, dead grass, and crushed pecan shells for mulch - I have an abundance of them all. Around annual vegetables, I prefer something that breaks down more quickly like the dead grass and leaves. DH loves to till, so I leave ~3 feet in between rows for him to till and just mulch in between the plants down the row as needed....See MoreFrugal weed mat.
Comments (9)I use newspapers colored and b & w to lasagna mulch in the garden all the time. It's true stay away from the metallic inks, but most anything else is ok. Even glossy stuff is usually fine, as it's usually made with clay based materials as far as I know. I put the newspaper down first, then a layer of cardboard (PRINT SIDE DOWN, BROWN SIDE UP) and then put some compost or other type of mulch on top of that. As far as the last post goes asking about shredded paper, just be careful of what the paper source is. I use all cardboard and colored and glossy stuff, what I DO NOT USE anything from a laser copier or any carbon paper--which is common in shredded paper mixes, if it comes out of any office that is. Pura Vida Here is a link that might be useful: garden blog and picts...See MoreCowpeas for cover crop? My method?
Comments (6)I'm in a similar situation. Ours was hard-packed clay that had been under concrete for 50 years. I bought a rototiller from Lowe's for $180, which was cheaper than renting for 4 days. It only goes down about 3 or 4", but that's enough to loosen the top crust. Then I had several cubic yards of compost trucked in from a bulk garden supply place and mixed it in loosely. Then I planted a buckwheat/cowpea cover crop by just sprinkling the seeds and raking them in. Good enough. They sprouted with a little water, and I'm glad to see that they are extremely drought tolerant and fast growing. I bought my buckwheat/cowpea mix from Peaceful Valley supply up in Grass Valley, CA. Their shipping charges are significant, though. I'd be careful about buying from your grocery store's bulk bin. Depending on the turnover, the beans might be very very dry and you might not get good germination. It'd be worthwhile to buy a couple handfuls and try germinating them on some wet paper towels inside a ziploc bags to see how viable they are. As for the rest of your garden where you're dumping loads of compost, have you looked into lasagna gardening or sheet mulching? I don't agree with their use of peat, but other mulches are readily available, of course....See MoreSharing my method of creating a small tree, bouquet form Pittosporum.
Comments (12)@emmarene9 Pitts are not quite as common here, at least where I am. I chose it simply because it seemed like a plant that would comply with all the demands, not be tempermental and look good. @Embothrium You stand out as the sole person to regularly rail at the idea of a plant being grown in the form of a bouquet. And I am apparently a person who can't fathom how or why anyone would, or could, find that form repulsive! Every time I read one of your attempts at describing the form, I see that you stray markedly far from the concept of a bouquet. There's nothing about the form that requires shearing other than your prejudging. Calling it deer or goat browsed sounds kind of "chewed up" looking, which would be a result of poor maintenance, which is not hardly a prescribed requirement. Bare "stems" ... eventually they get big and become trunks. Bark interest would be entirely a product of what a particular plant offers, Many have spectacular bark and exposing it to view is the only way it can be appreciated ... no differently than with any standard tree. I think your mind is locked in tight to some erroneous and inaccurate concepts -- probably because you're taking illustrations literally -- which, of course, is not how they are intended or should be taken. I've tried to inform you of that before. More than once actually. So I'm pretty sure you're not going to make the leap. I do get that you are repulsed by this form, or the idea of it. And that's OK. What puzzles me is why you insist on bringing it up over and over and over again. I would think you'd just look the other way and move on since we've been around the block about it so many times already. Are you a member of Antifa? I'm asking because that's how they do, too. They can't just disagree and go their own way. They feel like they have to shout you down and do their level best to make sure that you cannot express yourself without a lot of antagonism. At any rate, I have already long ago duly noted your objection and promise not to forget it....See MoreCharlie
10 years agoCharlie
10 years agofarmerkevin
10 years agoChristian
9 years agosylviatexas1
9 years agoernie85017, zn 9, phx
9 years agoange2006
9 years agolala_e
9 years ago
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