Spring Gardening & Planting (buy, fencing, gardens)

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by starwalker

Not at my house! And definitely not the "runner grass" that plagues many gardens! I had a Sept tilling from a fellow with a BIG tractor when we moved in, and a follow up from him in the spring. In actuality, I think there were more once the grass roots got chopped up.

Chopping up perennial roots often turns one root into many productive new plants and spreads them around. It's a very bad idea. I've been fighting mint for years. It's best to dig, pull and dispose of roots like that (which I know you know!).

[elston]

I have my own issue with mint.....and I have myself to blame.....I planted it in an area that I thought wouldnt support anything else....but the mint is thriving and now I have planted day lilies in that area and blue mt sage.....and the mint is hard to control....those fat white roots go everywhere.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

Chopping up perennial roots often turns one root into many productive new plants and spreads them around. It's a very bad idea. I've been fighting mint for years. It's best to dig, pull and dispose of roots like that (which I know you know!).

Yes, of course. When hand weeding I do this. When planting and I do also, to a degree... and I always take the weeds OUT of the garden. But for me it is totally impractical to dig up and pull grass from an area that is over 100' on a side.

Our process, which is resulting -- slowly -- in much less vigorous grass and less overall, is designed to allow K to help as much as he can in ways that he can. He IS working on designing a pull-behind rake and/or a "ghost bucket" for the front of the little tractor that will allow him to collect some of the weeds and grasses he loosens up and some of our bountiful crop of rocks (which honestly vex HIM more than they do me! Even our carrots and beets don't really seem to mind them.)

Time, funds and especially energy on his part are limited quantities, so we do what we can with what we have and see our progress in small steps.

Digging and pulling grasses and weeds is BY FAR the best way to start, if you are working on a backyard scale. I used to always "double-dig" my gardens -- back when I was young and the garden was maybe 25' on a side. No problem! It was actually a fun, and relaxing, workout and way to be in the yard in the early spring. Unfortunately, the gardens have grown in size (as I have moved thousands of miles from that double-dug, year-round garden in a SoCal back yard) and the body is going the other direction.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by elston

I have my own issue with mint.....and I have myself to blame.....I planted it in an area that I thought wouldnt support anything else....but the mint is thriving and now I have planted day lilies in that area and blue mt sage.....and the mint is hard to control....those fat white roots go everywhere.

Indeed they do! This would be a good place to attack with a spading fork or shovel, as per Maine Writer's note. Maybe even to "double-dig"... I know you are not a young buck, either, but I would count it as energy well spent. NOT that it would totally eliminate the mint... I am not that much of an optimist! LOL But it might slow it down for a few years.

[elston]

Originally Posted by starwalker

Indeed they do! This would be a good place to attack with a spading fork or shovel, as per Maine Writer's note. Maybe even to "double-dig"... I know you are not a young buck, either, but I would count it as energy well spent. NOT that it would totally eliminate the mint... I am not that much of an optimist! LOL But it might slow it down for a few years.

That is my goal....to contain and control as much as possible. LOL I really dont want to double dig that whole bed......because it has gotten to be very pretty with the lilies and sage and various annuals I tuck in there....It is on a sloping hill side that goes down to a wet spot in the woods.....when I started it was pretty much barren land supporting nothing...I planted the mint as a ground cover....and because it is one of the fragrances that remind me of my father. When I bought that little pack of mint plants.....it warned it would be invasive...and they didnt lie.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by elston

That is my goal....to contain and control as much as possible. LOL I really dont want to double dig that whole bed......because it has gotten to be very pretty with the lilies and sage and various annuals I tuck in there....It is on a sloping hill side that goes down to a wet spot in the woods.....when I started it was pretty much barren land supporting nothing...I planted the mint as a ground cover....and because it is one of the fragrances that remind me of my father. When I bought that little pack of mint plants.....it warned it would be invasive...and they didnt lie.

I think I remember when you planted it, honestly. Could you try laying down some weed control fabric, cutting x-shaped places for the existing desirable perennials and for planting your annuals through it? It can be a bit of trouble to put the stuff over existing plantings, but if you do it earlier in the spring, there will be less foliage to gather and pull through the hole. I did this to my asparagus bed last year, but not until they were in "fern" stage. Between fighting with the stuff -- trying to get the cuts in the right place -- and getting the plants through IN THE WIND which is pretty much constant here -- I was beginning to wonder if it was worth the hassle. We'll see what happens this spring.

[elston]

I hate working with that fabric stuff....altho I know there is a time and place for it. I think I will just continue to let the mint go down the hill thru the grassy area.....and pull it and dig out roots on an on-going basis in the rest of that bed. As long as I keep at it.....I hope to contain it or direct it somewhat.......who ever comes after me....may curse my decision.

The other flowering plant that takes over like that is Evening Primrose.....but I love the shiny yellow blossoms.....so have included it to mask the foundation of the deck on the back of the house. I am thinking the sweet william I planted last year may freely self seed and similarly need to be controlled.....in fact I planted a bunch of invasive plants ....because I had so much barren land......now it looks like the garden of eden back there.....astilbe growing rampant in the shady area....competing for dead nettles and hosta's for their piece of the earth.

But these are the challenges that give me purpose and joy!

[Newdaawn]

If you are looking for a perennial that is very pretty, easy to care for and blooms for a long time, give Astillbe a try. It comes in many shades of pink as well as lavender and white. I ordered a dozen - years ago from White Flower Farm in Ct. when I first became interested in planting flowers. I have since divided and shared many of them and transplanted many. From one dozen it has produced many dozen. They are not invasive but the clump will get larger and you can divide it. They seem to like sun or partial shade. Anohter favorite of mine are the daylilies which come in many colors and hights. Happy gardening.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by elston

I have my own issue with mint.....and I have myself to blame.....I planted it in an area that I thought wouldnt support anything else....but the mint is thriving and now I have planted day lilies in that area and blue mt sage.....and the mint is hard to control....those fat white roots go everywhere.

I like mint

I drink a good deal of tea all summer long and I find our mint very handy for that purpose.

Also it is one of the few herbs that can make mutton palatable.

[elston]

I like mint sauce....made with the mint and vinegar and sugar for lamb.....don't think I have had mutton.....tho I remember my English Mom and Nana talking about mutton.