Lasagna Method Fail

Okay, the jury is still out, but I’m a little disappointed in the results (so far) of my lasagna method for ridding my front lawn of grass. As one reader put it, “you can cover up that grass with black tarp and red mulch and stones and it will still find a way to live!” Yes, thank you, Andrea, I am aware that grass is almost indestructible. I’ve seen “Planet Earth, The Great Plains”. Go ahead and watch it, you’ll realize that the struggle is futile!

I’ve seen a few blades of grass around the edges of my new garden beds, not surprisingly, but it’s the dandelions that are really alarming.  I’m not sure how they’re doing it, but dandelions are pushing their way out in random spots through the layers of biodegradable geo-textile, earth and mulch.  My only hope is to combat the little suckers in the spring by giving them lots of competition in the form of strong ground-cover and large-leafed shade plants that will steal their sun. I’m afraid to dig down deep through the layers now to get the tap roots, because that will put more holes in the geo-textile, thus letting more sun in and probably allowing more dandelions to surge through. I’m not giving up though, and I’ve already planted some golden ‘creeping jenny’ plants that are doing very well, and some other ground covers (bugleweed and stone crop sedum) plus a few dwarf purple irises.  In the spring I’ll do a ton of planting and build up the mulch again to keep the weeds to a minimum.  Keeping fingers firmly crossed!

I’m gradually getting my fall garden chores done. I’ve been lulled into the feeling that I can do it at a leisurely pace this year by the incredibly warm, dry weather we’ve been having. There’s no shaking off the sense of urgency that hovers in the background however.  There are lots of chores one can do just as well in the spring as in the fall (cutting back the dead flower stalks, fertilizing, new plantings, etc); but fall is really the best time to do certain jobs:

• Dividing perennials; as long as you can get it done with a month or so to go before the first risk of hard frost.
• Also, if you want to bring any of your deck plants in for the winter, it’s best to do it when the contrast between indoor and outdoor temperatures isn’t too great. That would be now! Spray them with a little insecticidal soap (put a tsp of liquid soap- not detergent- in a litre-sized spray bottle) before you bring them in, to get any insects that may be loitering on the leaves.
• And of course, emptying the containers and cleaning them out in preparation for the spring is a nice favour to do for “future you”, and for the sake of your containers, which may crack if you leave them outside with potting soil in them all winter.
• Another important chore is to water your young trees, cedars, and other bushes very well before the first hard frost so they don’t dry out.

I’m inside today because I turned my ankle on a paving stone on my way out to the Tranquil Garden. Bad timing, but at least it let me get a post done while I’m resting my foot, elevated and on an ice pack.  I wish you all better luck with day!  As a bonus, listen to a little Ella, with “Someone to Watch over Me”.

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