Hi,
I am new to this forum and need some helpful advice. I have established borders all around my house. The ground is covered with plastic...not the best idea, but what's done is done. On top of the plastic is hardwood mulch. This mulch degrades each year and something more permanent has to be out there. If I add more mulch, the composted mulch below makes a good place for weeds. I am an old gal with physical limitations and no deep pockets. My plan is to remove the mulch, leave the plastic and put something permanent on top. My problem is what would be the best choice. Those round rocks are too heavy for me to fool with. I have seen a nice brown gravel, but am afraid it is dyed and will fade. Anyone with a solution or even an idea...please respond.

Thanks

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The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

I agree remove the plastic!! Is it bad that I don't use a mulch at all? Just dirt. I do put composted manure in the beds every year and it seems to work well. I don' like the wood because it is difficult to plant in,and I get splinters from it..

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Tonight I am having friends for dinner... Hanibal Lector My Album

Where i live, Preen is something you spray on clothes to take out stains. What the heck is Preen???

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The secret is the soil.

I would recommend removing the plastic also as it is horrid for your soil. Ground cover would probably be your best option. So, my idea that would work for your budget and help your soil is this:
1. Buy some ground cover, there are many to choose from. Find one that is "hardy" in your growing zone.
2. Remove the plastic!! To prevent weeds after removing the plastic, put down a couple of layers of newspaper or brown paper bags. These should be shredded and used similar to mulch. However, it would be easier to plant your ground cover in it. As the paper begins to degrade, it will add to your soil, but by the time it completely degrades, your ground cover should be thriving.

I have also seen people use several layers of aquarium gravel...but...I don't know if that is something I would personally do. Best of luck.
Ali

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Just wondering, I have a 1 ft border around my house also with heavy plastic covered with crush rock. It's to keep weeds and grass from growing up against my siding. Is this what your talking about?

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Tamara's Photos
Thinking Spring, Thinking Spring...Nope, doesn't work.lol

I have dogs and they tend to love the moist soil IN MY BEDS! I've had 2 seperate incidences where the weed barrier has been scratched/dug up and looks really, really bad. Once I had wood mulch on top of it, and the most recent (see pics) was putting small rounded type rocks over it. The dogs dug anyway and the rocks tended to fall toward the sidewalk, because we slanted the soil away from the foundation of the house. I've removed the upper portion of the weed barrier in the pics.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/BernGastfield/May%202006%20Farm%20pics/Spring2006Outdoorspics040_41_1.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/BernGastfield/May%202006%20Farm%20pics/Spring2006Outdoorspics039_40_1.jpg[/IMG]

Now I beleive I'll remove all of the weed barrier (good ridence) and just go with ground cover (after all the suggestions listed in this forum). I'm a novice gardener, so I'm not recommending, just sharing. Good luck....

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Bern

Hi BetsyK!

Welcome to the forum!

quote:

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I just saw a mulch on a local news station made from recycled rubber. It looks like wood mulch, lasts for a very very long time.

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I saw this a couple of years ago at a Home and Garden Show and it's awesome, but it can get pretty expensive if you have a large area to do.

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"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen!"