i use whatever the local tree guy will dump in my yard.. wood is wood .... will .. local gas stations and bigboxstores sell cypress mulch here .... in bags. easy transport and all ... mulching does 3 things: 1 .... keeps that idiot with the lawnmower and weedwhip a couple feet away from the trunk ... 2... cools the soil ... which roots like .. and reduces water loss .... 3... retards weed germination.. and keeps the soil friable.. soft.. so you can pull out any weeds ... personally if God had meant for you to layer the soil with plastic stuff.. then your plants would be plastic ... most weed seed is wind borne.. or bird borne.. and one minute after you lay down fabric.. a seed is on top of it.. IMHO .. its a total... COMPLETE waste of money .... but if anyone else like it.. good for them ... anticipate settling .. i would put down about 4 inches.. hoping that after settling.. there would be about 2 to 3 of mulch .. ON MY SAND .... IF YOU HAVE CLAY.. SOMEONE ELSE CAN TELL YOU HOW DEEP ... AND IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE TRUNK OF THE PLANT.. OUT ABOUT A FOOT BEYOND THE PLANT.. IF THEY ARE OUT IN THE LAWN .. KEN PS: using the caps for emphasis.. somewhat fails.. if you forget to turn them off.. lol

Nothing much to do today. I am waiting for the coldest temperatures of the winter and a approaching snow storm that is due this weekend. Arbs are wrapped with twine, rabbit protection in place and zone 6 cultivars are protected. Deer are not a problem. With that in hand why not make a long post even longer. The quote: "I don't know why but I don't like dwarf conifers" I am not here to rail against that...just expressing my thoughts from the other side of the coin. We all have our likes and dislikes. A diversified group we are. I know why I like them and I am glad to have a garden full of them. So much more interesting avenues are available in color, size and texture. With the right plan and presentation nothing surpasses the look. Much more interesting then miles of green sticks pointing upwards to the heavens. No disrespect here for species lovers. For me this look just doesn't trip my trigger and not applicable to a garden setting in the first place. This places a huge void between species and cultivars and mixing the two is impossible unless you have a large land mass to accommodate the two. In my opinion even with both being conifers there should be two forums...one for each. Just my opinion but I think a valid one. Don't let this one rub the wrong way but the void between the two is significant in terms of likes /dislikes and has been expressed on this forum many times. My quote: "I do like them, (species) but I don't know why". I suppose with out them our availability to witch's brooms would be gone. Nurseries would be void of these beautiful little guys selling only deciduous trees shrubs and flowers. I would hate the thought of gardening with out conifer cultivars. They are my anchor plants and my sea of color during those bleak winter months. With out them there would be no garden. I would just be cutting grass and raking leaves. Gardening with trees, shrubs, hostas and flowers doesn't cut it with me. No disrespect to those who do...just not my cup of tea. Waiting patiently for spring and the arrival of a few interesting new cultivars. Dave

Amysrq, There are many restaurants in Hudson, There is a very large population of ex-Manhattanites so the taste level is pretty high. We stayed away from the finer dining places. We just weren't in the mood. But we did enjoy Tortillaville, a seasonal Mexican place, seasonal in the sense that it is a cute little 50's style aluminum food truck that sets up on a vacant lot right on Warren St. (the main street)with picnic tables and umbrellas. It was fun and inexpensive and my teens loved it. We also ate a lunch at Brunos, a tiny little lunch place also on Warren St run by two sisters. Terrific organic carefully prepared fresh food. Bruno was a much loved family pet and the restaurant name is to honor his memory. Baba Louie's is another casual place, organic spelt flour flat bread pizzas and terrific salads, everything organic and fresh. My teens loved the original small brewery type fruit sodas they served here. They have three locations, Hudson, Pittsfield, and Great Barrington. I can also highly recommend the ice cream at Lick. Artisanal small batch ice creams, very rich in interesting flavors. My daughter loved the lavender. Ask for samples before you decide on a flavor. All of these places are on Warren St, the main drags. My daughter's about to leave for college so we just went through the whole campus tour routine. Good luck!

It is a beautiful conifer and just the right height and spread I need for the space ==>>> conifers are trees .. as such.. they NEVER stop growing ... so you can not 'fit' them into a given space.. FOREVER ... all have a somewhat predictable annual growth rate ... and using such.. you can predict how large they will become.. in 20 .. 30.. 50 years ... i am happy you are avoided the juniper .. i hate them ... what ed said on not planting all of one thing ... you county soil conservation district office .. MIGHT sell plants ... google that term with your county name.. or tell us your county ... they will also list trees applicable to your area ... and do understand .... that blocking the site line back there.. does NOT have to be limited ... to planting JUST out back there ... a nice landscaping... is not a straight line.. on the property line.. so depending on what you need the future lawn for... plant some things in between ... ken ps: you can overplant .. say by double ... so that you get your blocking sooner ... and then.. eventually remove every other plant .... before you have to pay money for such ....if you choose the right plants.. you might even harvest your own xmas trees ...