If missrubybegonia is going to use gravel, crushed stone or any such permeable material in the situation she describes, having underlying landscape fabric would be a good idea. While I generally believe that landscape fabric is the Anti-Christ of gardening, this applies to its negative features when used in a planting area. As a base material in a gravel or brick path or sitting area, it will be useful for awhile (5-10 years, or whatever the expected time before the stuff breaks down) as a weedblock. And unless there is heavy foot traffic or an overhang that keeps things very dry, it is a good bet weeds will sprout in and through the gravel. The stuff that sprouts in it (that the fabric won't prevent) can fairly easily be raked out. What you want to avoid is the deep/tap-rooted stuff that comes up through the gravel (and once lawn is removed, all sorts of weed seeds that have been waiting for this moment are liable to germinate). Consider not using fabric if there's a chance the area will be used for planting again someday, as soil underneath fabric gets slick and compacted. If small-sized gravel is to be used, irregular edges are better than rounded ones, as with the latter one's feet tend to sink down and/or roll uncomfortably if the gravel is more than a couple inches thick.

CatsRose: "Did you meaure the depth of your sprinkler hose? You want it to be wet a good 10" down, especially for roses and other shrubs." After sprinkling, the top 6-8" was damp - after a few days. I waited until the ground was more firm before testing it out. In between the shrubs & perennials, I have been digging out handfuls worms for the chicks where it's damp enough. :-) I put out tons of organic material, and the garden is full of worm activity when there's enough water. The neighboring bed, unsprinkled, is too dry on top for worms now. "You can get 1/4 emitter tubing with emitters every 6 inches." Yep, have some of that, some that drips every 12", and some that is soaker type. Am also experimenting with T-Tape from Dripworks in the veggie garden rather than soaker hose. I really like the T-Tape system and would like to try a perennial beds using it. "Also in-line emitters you can space as you wish." Had lots of problems with those clogging. I still use a few in the daylily bed. But I prefer a T with a non-inline-emitter because if one of those inline emitters clogs up, it takes out water to all the plants in that line. Very annoying. "Also "shrubblers," which have 8 little fingers of water that can be adjusted to spread up to 24." Those use too much water for my well pump. If I have those on the system, I can't water very many plants on that loop or the overall pressure drops. I do have a small area watered by my house water system which has a pressure tank & I water a couple of the larger trees with those. "To help with pressure loss, make a closed system, so there are no ends. Do this with both your main line and any emitter tubing, even if you have to just make a small circle at the end." I do that wherever practical. The nice thing about low flow T-Tape is the flow is very even without having a closed loop. "Do you use a filter? It helps with deposits. I've never had a problem within the first three years and not much after that." Yes. There is a specific calcium filter you can buy, but it's disposable and I just hate to buy and use and toss out disposable items. Calcium particles are tiny and build up over time, the filter does catch any larger stuff. Next year when I do my Spring dripper check, I am going to carry around a small syringe of vinegar water and put some into the head of each dripper before flushing the system out. That might help to dissolve calcium/lime buildup on the dripper heads. "My biggest problem is emitters getting plugged up from the outside. And I've have critters chew thru the lines looking for water, which I solve by puuting out water pans for them." I do that, too. :-) There's a dripper that feeds an animal watering bowl. This drip system is a fun project for me. :-) Garden automation... Cheers, Michelle

Hi Carol, I am in Sarasota also and have the privilege of having a very old, huge oak in my yard. When we were building this house, we called a respected arborist in to help us protect this tree from construction since it was the reason we bought this property. We also wanted to remove the 8-12 foot round of 'saplings' growing around the trunk to start planting things. He told us that these are not saplings, they are suckers which come up directly from the root system of the tree. The old tree is not as thick in foliage as it was in its youth, and this is one of the ways it tries to get more energy, by producing more foliage in the way of suckers. He strongly advised us not to dig up or spray them in any way, as it would make the tree decline, and perhaps even die. We asked him if it we could trim them (some were 2 feet or more tall). He said that would be fine as long as we kept most of the foliage. Since then, we have weed-whacked the suckers at an even level of about 8-10 inches once or twice yearly, I would estimate. We have planted ferns at the edges, which has grown into this a little, and there is also cast iron plant and firecracker plant at the edges which have grown into the suckers a little. I think the suckers look nice like a groundcover around the tree. In fact, it looks a lot like the asiatic jasmine around town. As an aside, our neighbors have many oaks and a very manicured yard. Their gardener sprays the suckers around some of their oaks a couple of times a year. These oaks that get their suckers sprayed have declined noticeably and don't look beautiful to me any more. An old, huge oak is a beautiful, beautiful thing. Nothing you plant around it will be as valuable or beautiful. My advice would be to just trim at a lower level, plant non-harmful things at the edges, or go for pots under the tree. If you'd like to see it in person, I'd be happy to show you my suckered tree. I think it looks nice. By the way, it's just my opinion, but I think part of the majesty of an old oak is seeing the gorgeous trunk base. For that reason also, consider not planting close to the trunk so that it can be visualized to its fullest! Good luck with your beautiful tree. Anna

The last time I checked this was a free country. I believe that would mean we would be allowed to plant and landscape our own property as we see fit as long as it didn't have any safety issues. For example I wouldn't plant a Spanish dagger next to a walkway. The guy put time, effort and money into his yard and keeps it maintain. And as far as ratio of turf to plants is nonsense. How many times in the past years have we had to watch water consumption during the heat of the summer? Turf is far too over rated and takes a lot of water to maintain a green yard. This guy has found a way to cut back on water and should be commended for doing so. You know if he had a sodded yard he would have to keep it watered because the HOA don't want any dead grass. I'm glad I'm not in a HOA because I have given up keeping my yard green in this heat. You couldn't pay me to live in a HOA neighborhood. I should be free to choose what color to paint my own home. No one should be able to even tell me what shade to use. Government should not have ANY control over paint choice or plant selections. Give me a break! I've been driving along and see a house painted in some wierd color and I might say something like "They must have got a good deal on that paint 'cause why would anyone pick that color?" But I'm not going to run to city hall to complain. It was their choice to use that color on their own home and that is call freedom of expression. And as far as not only plant selection but an HOA controlling color of a plant is absolutely absurd! There are so many cookie cutter homes these days and now they want us to have cookie cutter yards? If everyone on the street had Pink Crape Myrtles and I like the lavender better then I should be able to plant the color I enjoy. And if someone came upon my property and pulled up plants...isn't that called trespassing and destruction of property? Aren't there still laws on these? I read Karmas' post and she hit it on the head. And mommyfox I agree with you, I may not like the plant chosen but I will defend the freedom to plant it. Thank you for letting me vent...This type of "control" really ticks me off. Deb