Getting rid of lawn
nancyjane_gardener
5 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (21)
lgteacher
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Too much lawn
Comments (21)You may be doing to your property what I did to mine over the past twenty years and am now trying to rectify. As a rabid environmentalist back then, and still only slightly modified, I have always prioritized saving the planet over how my personal environment looks, inside and out. As I've always been a messy person anyway, the results have not been good, and I am looking at spending my 50s correcting for those errors, inside and out (unless we just burn the place down!) - we called the outside my "uglification project" for a long time. Not that this is the place for those true confessions, but I thought of you as I read the thread linked below which, although it discusses the indoors, can be applied to the outdoors. You can certainly replace lawn with random pieces of plastic, wood, and garbage, but I don't think it will lead to you being happy in the space or with the look. My difference was perhaps that I was fully plant-crazy certified, and working toward an objective of making space for my plants, so there was some overall trajectory to the process. But like Frankie, I'm not hearing an overall purpose in what you're doing, and that is a recipe for disaster. I didn't actually make a success of it until my husband and I sat down and made a plan for the back yard that addressed how we were going to USE it as people, and in the front, how we wanted it to LOOK and FUNCTION. And the truth is, using your garbage to kill the lawn doesn't keep the stuff out of landfill, it only delays it going in. If you can recycle soft plastic, getting it dirty just removes that option. Mulch, with or without layering, will definitely do all that better - contact a tree service and see if they can bring you a load. You may be romanticizing the dandelions on the basis of using no herbicide, but (a) you don't have to use herbicide to get rid of dandelions, and (b) although pretty in spring, dandelions are not romantic or environment-friendly; they are an aspiring monoculture. Dandelions, like norway maples, do not have any plans to coexist with other plants but rather to displace them. That is what they are equipped for and it is why they are called weeds. Whether weeds are 4 inches or 40 feet tall, they are in takeover mode. Dandelions, buttercups, and many others, if you show any mercy, they will later show you none, and as they do not respect property lines, your choices will land on your neighbours, and they will use more herbicide. I have frequently thought that municipal herbicide bans would be far better formatted as bylaws requiring people to be responsible with their own property maintenance by controlling weed growth. Across the street and down the alley there are a few uncontrolled (and very dense!) patches of dandelions that render my own earnest efforts at control laughable, and hopeless. Anyway, it's your journey, and prior to mine I might not have listened to anyone who'd trod the path before me either. The good news for you is that grass is easy to kill. But filling the void it leaves is quite another thing. KarinL PS have you considered an electric mower? Not as locally polluting, does have an impact of course, but likely managed better than most people tune their gas lawnmowers. Here is a link that might be useful: Organizing the House forum thread...See Moregetting rid of lawn
Comments (1)It's probably going to be the case that no one knows what you really mean by the term, "heavy felt." Is this some sort of non-biodegradable landscape fabric, or something that decomposes? If it decomposes, like paper or cardboard, you could leave it and plant through it (not on top of it) and mulch over it. If it doesn't decompose, it would be better in the long run to get rid of it. The picture link does not work for me. To add a single picture, there is a place to "choose file" in the same window as where you create a message or post a reply. You can post one picture at a time. To post more pictures, create more replies. To post multiple pictures in a single post, find the html code at the photo-hosting site you use. To find it, usually one needs to explore the word "share" wherever the picture is located. More than one html code might be available for a picture ... for different sizes or uses. You can determine if you got the correct code when you preview the post as it will show up the same when the message is submitted....See MoreQuestion About Weed Mat to get rid of Lawn
Comments (1)Many years ago in the GW soil forum there was a long discussion about the use of plastic in the garden. The general consensus was that there was never a good time to use plastics. The closest use that generated any positive opinion was solarization where the plastic is removed after the underlying stuff is killed. Your instincts about that plastic are correct. It will not stop anything. All it will do is cause a huge headache for you or the next people. Most weeds and grasses can be smothered. Solarizing might work as a start. That involves wetting the grass and soil and covering it with clear or black plastic and sealing the edges from air infiltration. Do that for a month of very sunny days. Hot sunny days are better because they tend to help with the heating. Pull it away when you think the underlying weeds are dead. After that most of the plants underneath should be rotting away. As a further precaution you can continue to smother anything alive with sand and mulch. Most people start with a product like RoundUp to renovate. Spray that once, water daily to sprout all the weed seeds, wait a week, repeat the spray to kill the new weeds, wait another week, and you should be good to go....See Morelawn grubs
Comments (7)When I was doing my course, they re-enacted an accident scene where a guy was using one of these click on things. It was dramatised to scare us! He's out there using it when the water board flush the mains around the corner. His spray stops working so he goes inside to get a drink of water from his kitchen tap, and unknowingly drinks the chemical he's using which has been sucked back through the pipes. Then he goes back outside to see if its working again and it is, so he finishes off spraying then he collapses and they tell us he later dies! Never know, it could happen. They showed us another one, where it was at a bowling club. The greenkeepers had to spray for lawn grubs so they put the hose into the spray tank and left it to fill up while they had their morning tea. Same thing happened with the water board flushing mains and the chemicals were sucked back into the kitchen of the bowling club, where the old ladies were making themselves a cuppa, and drank the chemicals. You'd have to be unlucky! But you'd probably have a better chance of getting struck by lightning or watching Souths win a game of footy. Bryan...See Morelgteacher
5 years ago
Autumn Mcpherson
5 years agoth ng
5 years agonancyjane_gardener
5 years ago
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
5 years agonancyjane_gardener
5 years ago
Lars
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoI'm in Los Angeles, but I planted my front yard primarily in South African natives, which do very well here and many make good ground covers. In addition to that, I have planted agaves - one of which is still left. Here are some 2018 photos of my front yard:
I think the hybiscus require the most water, but the bromeliads are good at keeping water after being watered and really don't need that much, but I do put mosquito pellets in them, just in case... I don't know what the white flowers are, but I believe they are from South Africa.
nancyjane_gardener
5 years ago
nanelle_gw (usda 9/Sunset 14)
5 years agonancyjane_gardener
5 years agonanelle_gw (usda 9/Sunset 14)
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoTmnca
5 years agonancyjane_gardener
5 years agonancyjane_gardener
5 years agolgteacher
5 years ago
PRORevolutionary Gardens
5 years agoThe formal gardens at Lady Bird Johnson's Wildflower Gardens in Austin, TX are a great take a "traditional" layout, but in a style that might work with what you're after.
nancyjane_gardener thanked Revolutionary Gardens
Sara Malone Zone 9b
5 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
5 years agonancyjane_gardener
5 years ago
Related Stories
EDIBLE GARDENSNatural Ways to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Garden
Use these techniques to help prevent the spread of weeds and to learn about your soil
Full Story
DECLUTTERINGDownsizing Help: How to Get Rid of Your Extra Stuff
Sell, consign, donate? We walk you through the options so you can sail through scaling down
Full Story
GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING4 Good Ways to Get Rid of Mosquitos in Your Yard
Stay safe from West Nile virus and put an end to irksome itches with these tools and methods for a porch, patio or yard
Full Story
LANDSCAPE DESIGNGet Along With Less Lawn — Ideas to Save Water and Effort
Ditch the mower and lower your water bill while creating a feast for the eyes with diverse plantings and gathering places
Full Story
MOST POPULARHow to Get Rid of Those Pesky Summer Fruit Flies
Learn what fruit flies are, how to prevent them and how to get rid of them in your home
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESLose It: How to Get Rid of Old Light Bulbs
When the light goes out, you'll want to get rid of the bulb safely. Here's how
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESUse It or Lose It: How to Get Rid of Old Keys
Clean out your junk drawer by getting rid of keys in an earth-friendly way
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESLose It: 4 Ways to Get Rid of Your Old Carpet
Try one of these earth-friendly tips before stuffing your dingy carpet or rug in the trash
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESLose It: How to Get Rid of a Mattress
Updating your bedroom? Here's how to donate, reuse or recycle that mattress — and keep it out of the landfill
Full Story
MORE ROOMSHome Tech: Getting Rid of Wires Without Sacrificing Sound
Wireless home technology still isn't perfect, but new products are giving audiophiles choices
Full Story
Tmnca