THE DAY
Lower 80s but with an autumn feel. Over cast. My last week dedicated to the reno.
THE RAIN
Zippo.
THE DEEDS
On September 1st, I’m starting a couple of new work projects that will take me through mid January. With all my other assignments, this will keep me busier than ever. This has been in the works for some time, and I thought it would be a good time to renovate my garden. Each week when I think I’m done, I keep going forward. The ones I’m doing have been on my for years. One, actually since the day I move in almost 18 years ago.
As many of you know, I love chaotic order, which is why the major beds are lined in boxwood and why I take so much pride in crisp edges. The edges collapsed one time too many. My current renovation is focusing on less maintenance. and combining what I had envisioned the front to be all those years ago.
Although the formal style I thought I once wanted, with four corner urns defining the front space with paths and seating didn’t pan out, the concept stayed with me. My garden has a slope. From the curb to the top of the bed rises about four feet. I couldn’t ever get past how the urns would look unless the land was level. That was something I didn’t want to do.
Last fall, I started the concept by cutting in the beds to give structure. I liked it for a while, but then the edger would break, the edges would collapse, and worse, wire grass creeped in. I knew I needed edging.
Not satisfied with what was available commercially, the connectors popped out, they were never level, they would heave in the winter, etc. I like stability.
I needed an alternative. I wanted cor-ten but was unable to locate it locally. There is noting magical about cor-ten, it’s all in the “weathering” of steel. In cor-ten’s case, the weathering has been spread up, and in the process, creating various patinas. In my case, I only need to edge to a depth of two inches, so Mother nature weathering would be fine, but since I don’t like to wait, I speed up the process by applying a caustic.
Once I had the metal edges in place, I began using a spray mixture of four parts vinegar, one part hydrogen peroxide, and 1/2 part of salt. I could have used a ferric acid to go even faster, but I didn’t want to deal with that.
I’ve made two sprays so far, and I’m already starting to see rust form. The metal is 1/4 thick. A surface coating of rust will actually protect the steel, but it would take five lifetimes to be destroyed, if not longer.
As of this writing, I’ve sprayed three times over three days. It’s already starting to do it’s magic.
After edging but before they were set. The grass is being killed and tilled for re-soding with emerald zoysia.
Next week’s post will show Helen’s Haven front with new grass and hopefully the edged beds will be mulched. I’m also waiting for Campbell Road nursery’s final sell of the season. Their four-inch pots will be reduced to a dollar. This week will require a lot of raking to remove the dead grass. Aster did say her will help me for $10.00 and hour. Deal…if he sticks to his promise.
I’VE HAD ENOUGH
For reasons unknown to me, I have a bad case of wire grass. My neighbors don’t, but I have that creeping, disorderly, evil turf everywhere.
Last September, I replaced the tall fescue in the back with Emerald Zoysia. It turned out great. As I venting hatred remarks at the grass, once again, I realized it needed to go. I decided then and there to convert the front grass as well.
As of right now, I’m in the process of killing the grass, they I’ll use a hard rake to remove the dead turf. This is a big job, and I’m thankful I can still do this kind of work. You never know what tomorrow will bring. The sod arrives on Friday, after work. I’m taking a chance the grass will be removed by then, because you can’t go much later in the year to lay a summer grass.
THE LITTLE THINGS
Mowed
Blowed
Watered
Removed a giant poke weed. I can tell I’m going as a gardener, b/c this is the first year I found adult poke to be fascinating.
Removed a week that I don’t know th name of. The leaves look very similar to phlox so I don’t pull it. For some reason, it’s a lesson I have to re-learn each year. It has a little flower that is yellow and white. I think I need to put a reminder on my calendar to look for this and rid it right away.
Trying to get rid of the passion vine. I’ve never had a Fritillary near it and it is why I grow it. It’s never fruited since it’s in too much shade. Oh boy, this will be fun. It likes to weave and tangle.
THE BIGGER THINGS
Removed the remaining hollies on the side of the house. I just took them down to the root and will let them rot in the ground. I replaced the plantings with a single ‘Sunny Foster’. Because it is only 3 feet tall and I’m to tired to even investigate the massive roots I need to dig through, I decided to put it in a big pot. It looks great.
Removed more Crape Myrtle branches.
Removed some dead branches on an otherwise healthy shrub.
Removed another Leyland limb.
Removed a lower limb from the crabapple.
Attempted to move the wonderful natural stone bird bath from Phil Hathcock, owner of Natural Stone Sculpture. I’ve had it for a long time. It was originally planted near the filbert, but that has grown so much over the years. I now want it in the area where I removed the hollies.
Removed an acanthus where the new blueberry bushes will go.
THE PLANTINGS
12 ‘Henry Elders’ edging the soccer field
24 ‘Cheyenne Sky’ edging the soccer field
7 Crinums edging the soccer field
Replaced 3 ‘Toffee Twist’ sedge in the front beds
18 ‘Angelina’ sedges in the front beds.
Removed lots of ‘John Creech’ sedum and divided a bigger one that is more prolific, but taller….about 1.5 inches versus 0.
7 ‘Autumn Joy’ sedums
1 ‘Miss Huff’
Transplanted lots of rain lilies to line the Red Bed path.
Transplanted thornless blackberry
1 Santa Rosa plum
1 Taylor fig.
THE PULLINGS
Pulled too tall lance leaf Rudbeckia.
Pulled a weedy milkweed that no Monarch has ever alighted.
Pulled baby daylilies in Mixed Border.
Pulled some aggressive goldenrod.
Pulled Ruella.
Pulled Lambs Ear.
THIS AND THAT
Sorted out the terra-cotta pots
Scratched out the south side edible garden.
Raked the front dead grass and sprayed again.
Found a spot for more blueberries. I’ll purchase and plant them when I return from the Dutch Wave tour in the Netherlands and Germany.
I need to move one of my night lights. I’ve unearthed it, but now I need to brush up on my electrical skills to make a new connection.
Added more firewood to the ever growing pile.
Spent some good quality time with my Troy-Bilt chipper/shredder.
GETTING READY
I do love fall. Once all this change is complete, I can sit back and enjoy the ride….
Helen