It's become clear to me through posts and PMs that there are some gardeners here just waiting for the chance to discuss gardening!
So, I was thinking... how do you use gardening, or how does it affect you if you need a break, need some respite, need to relax, need inspiration....how do you use it as a therapy tool in caregiving?
What are your activities: Do you go out and pull weeds, read a magazine, design new beds? Look through garden catalogues? Go to garden stores?
And what interests have you added to your gardening? Visit estate or garden displays? Do you go to garden shows?
Does anyone design and plant Knot Gardens? Raised bed planters? Assistive gardens? Pollinator gardens (and have you thought of ways to help the bees and butterflies?)
Are your gardens primarily for pleasure or food, or a mix of both? Do you grow plants for medicinal purposes? Which ones, how do you harvest and process them? Any suggestions?
Do you grow plants that can be used in crafts, such as grapevines for wreaths and lavender for lavender wands? Do you make herbal products such as creams, lotions, chapstick?
What else can you share about gardening and the means in which it nurtures your soul?
It seems it is just so darn early for this. Thunder snow, possibly. It is only about 70 miles west of here.🌴🌴🌲🌲🌃🌃
Very impressive! Wonderful! Thanks for your contributions.
I'll check the oak tree roots but I don't think they grew above the soil. So I'm more inclined to believe the condition in your yard arises from the soil. Sorry. I wish it could be easier.
Great response, thanks. I have maple trees, pine trees, magnolia trees, the neighbors tree is an oak.
In my experience, trees with roots close to the ground may be in clay soil, so the roots are closer to the surface to get the moisture they need b/c the soil is virtually impenetrable. I've seen a magnificent maple, one of those with the dark, shiny leaves, grow into this situation, with the roots actually right on and above the surface.
The house had been built on the top of a drumlin which I'm sure is a result of the last glacier, and very poor planning by the developer. All the houses on that side of the street were on the drumlin, and each had a steep back yard with slightly less steep front yard, and ditches in front where water collected.
The area around the base of the tree wasn't even mowable.
What can you do? First, I'm assuming the area is flat. Second, there may be massive clay buildups beneath that are also preventing root penetration. And grass grows thickly.
You could create little holes out of the way, put coffee grounds in them, and hope that the worms will navigate there and feast on the grounds (which they do like). They aerate and turn the subsurface soil.
Other than that, the only way I know of to remediate clay soil is to dig it up and add compost, or some sand to lighten it, or peat moss. That's what I had to do to the heavy clay perimeter area of my house, and the sandy garden area.
I would agree that the area should have been turned and lightened before putting down a lawn, but...well, we all think of things that should have been done, don't we?
It could also be a function of aggressive trees. Other than the neighbor's oak, what kind of trees are growing in your yard? Box elders? Elms? Cottonwoods? Mulberries? I've found the box elders and mulberries to be the most aggressive and harder to kill. One mulberry has been cut down to the base several times; the crew slit the trunk in several places, but it still grows back.
Two things I've discovered are good tree killers are morning glories, which I haven't yet tried on the stubborn stump. So now when I cut a tree, I either bark strip it and expose it to winter and sun to kill it, or I wind morning glories around it; they apparently choke out air and sun.
Another very experienced gardening acquaintance planed daikon radishes as cover crops in her garden, but it was already well tilled. The radishes extend deep roots and break up the soil. It might work for your lawn as a winter cover crop, as the radishes die back at the end of winter (so I understand).
https://www.farmprogress.com/management/tillage-radish-cover-crop-tips-maximize-its-benefits for more info on tillage cover crops.
I wouldn't plant anything over the existing lawn, the roots would just grow up through it.
The solution might only be to cut down the trees, or use a cover crop to aerate and loosen the soil, then turn it under in the spring. Then replant a lawn, but consider cutting down some of the trees.
I did research how to fix the self propel mechanism; there are 3 options, but I've decided not to change out any of the fixtures. Minor maintenance is one thing, but I'm not comfortable adjusting moving parts.
Yes, I am aware of the diversity of YouTube, and I did find one very good comparison of tillers. But there's so much amateur video and I don't want to rely on an unknown or his/her quals for something that can be as dangerous as a mower.
Thanks for the suggestions though. Given the heat, my mower deserved a break, so I'll just get it fixed and give it another long break over the winter.
Is this a problem from not clearing the lot properly or what? My lawn is not growing in certain areas. The roots are invading the garden. They are pushing up bricks that I have as an edging.
How exactly are tree roots removed? There aren’t trees near the roots. I do have trees in my yard but I don’t think these are the roots from those trees.
The gardener uses a tractor to mow the lawn. It would be hard to mow with a regular lawn mower. Also, if we put new soil on top, could we plant a lawn without removing the roots or will they cause a problem being underneath the soil?
Also my neighbor planted an an oak tree near my driveway a few years back. Is this tree going to cause me to have problems with my driveway later on?
Bought my John Deere from a dealer here for the sole reason that they will pick up and deliver when it needs service.🚜
And GA, you would be amazed at what can be learned on YouTube.
(Seriously, a good company from which I bought it will fix it w/o traveling hundreds of miles.)
CWillie, I would leave the pollinator plants for them. There's been such a drastic decline in bees over the last years, and butterflies in my area. I haven't seen more than one butterfly this year.
Are folks aware that bird populations have declined as well?
Hellebore, I’m also in the SE with unreal heat, 98 today, unheard of for October and terrible drought. We’ve had rain twice since early May. Nothing in the garden has done well, and I’ve lost a couple of azaleas. It’s been a frustrating “growing” season
Anyone else really struggling with the heat? I'm going to try not to plant anything I don't really have to have next summer since the odds are good I'll be watering daily into October (in 90+ degree heat which isn't fun), given the droughts the last few years.
But the monarchs on their way south!
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2019/10/02/monarchs-migrating-colorado/
Eagles are majestic. Beautiful creatures. Would be so fun to be able to fly!
I have had the ‘falling’ dreams and waking up before I land but never the ‘flying’ dreams. Would be a great dream!
I have flown in a plane, no helicopters or hot air balloons though. Have never jumped out of a plane. That’s still not exactly like flying...
I love flying. Love looking out the window above the clouds and one of the most beautiful sights I have seen from a plane window was a lightening storm! Does that make me weird? Hahaha.
I love watching the little sparrows. They are so darling.
I don’t know if I have a favorite bird. I love cardinals and hummingbirds are so cute!
The larger birds, I love hawks. I have a friend that lives north of the city in a rural area. I love watching the hawks overhead. They are beautiful in flight.
Attracts a wide variety of birds.
I do enjoy watching budgies bird videos indoors with my bird. He flies over, lands on the computer, and waits for me to turn on the videos he likes.
Some bird owners have a Palm tree garden inside for their birds, but as yet, I am not sure which plants are safe for budgies. Another day......after paying bills.
Has anyone seen flocks of birds migrating for winter coming?
Yes, a mix of pots is what my neighbors are doing, and it looks really good.
Some have so many plants in pots that it looks like a nursery.
Just now, I have 4-5 empty pots and I really want them planted. Maybe soon.
Currently on tap, if Virginia EVER cools off, is taking the back corner and transforming it from messy unused space to a native perennial hangout with a bench and whatever else appeals. I've done pollinators in the dry creek bed, watched monarch caterpillars eat up the milkweed and become gorgeous winged creatures. Love it all, GardenArtist, and YES, it nurtures my soul.
https://patch.com/michigan/farmington-mi/weeds-got-your-goat-these-goats-will-get-your-weeds
What more can you ask for from a mowing machine? Mine doesn't even baaaa when I greet it even though it's a good machine.
I'd love to have some, if for nothing else than to demonstrate to the city and "neat lawn freaks" that there are climate friendly ways to maintain lawns, beside their obsessive mowing.
Glad, I use slime in my 4 wheeler and I have never had a flat tire and believe me, I would have been walking without the slime. The tire store actually puts it in as a service when you buy new tires.
It is not recommended for highway tires, the speed and balance seems to be an issue. It stays fluid so I can imagine that you might feel it in the handling of the vehicle.
I live in an area with those dreadful puncture vines, it is a seasonal hunt to stop them from going to seed. Grrrr!