Agree. Assuming your garden layout is semi-permanent just rake back the straw, punch a hole in the paper and plant. No need to remove it just layer new mulch on top. If, on the other hand you must till/rearrange/etc. the bed then just till it in. Be sure to add additional N fertilizer of some kind to compensate for the tilled in carbons. Dave

My little Japanese maple, type unknown since my landscape guy took the tag with him, is suffering like yours Faye, with curling leaves and quite stressed looking. This is its first summer and it was planted in late June, so I dare not move it. It is so hot in the little rock garden where it's planted that I can't stand there in the afternoon. I just hope it will make it. The other little plants they put there, some boxwoods and azaleas and a rhodie, all look "ok". They have at least put on some growth in the month they've been out there, but everything is suffering. Our new lawn looks as barren as a lunar landscape. Last night it went down to 59, but right now it's 95. I guess we're all going to have to be patient, but I'm ready for Fall. I hope you get some answers on the disc question. Our front area was terribly compacted by the construction, and I'm looking for some way to help restore it. Best of luck to you on your projects.

We've used pine bark, which we can purchase in bulk for about $30 per cu yd. There's a place just a few miles away that offers pine bark in three sizes - small, medium, and large. They charge to deliver, but I have access to an open trailer, so we spread a sheet of plastic under the bark and haul it home. This year, however, we've started using grass clippings. I purchased a bagger for the John Deere riding lawnmower, and every time I mow, I get more clippings than I can use. The grass clippings quickly form a fairly (but not 100%) effective weed barrier. As they decompose, they add valuable nutrients to the soil. Best of all, grass clippings are free. Our mowing season begins in late March and ends in late October, so there is a continuous supply available.

I use that kind of fertilizer once in early spring. I put it on top of the old mulch. I always procrastinate with replenishing mulch, so I always have weeds to pull and then I'm smoothing the mulch back in place. That seems to knock most of it down somewhat. Just when my garden is almost out of control, I dash off to get more mulch and add a new layer.