Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Yardening Summer 2013 Part 2, 4 by CatMint20906

CatMint20906 wrote:
Holly, thanks so much for the info about the cardboard method! So if I'm following this correctly, I put cardboard over the spots where I want to build new beds, then put down soil, mulching, etc., then seed plants directly into that. Over time, the cardboard deteriorates and the dead grass decomposes and voila a nice new soil bed! Is that right? If so, it sounds much easier than digging out the grass with a shovel! (Despite Speedie's wonderful and humorous image of attacking the juniper with battle cries--LOL)

Happy, I have two Delosperma cooperi that I planted early this summer. One has done well and the other has not. Since I've gotten to know the beds better, I realize that, although I thought I was planting them in equally sunny spots, I was not, and the one that is doing better is in the sunnier spot. I didn't do anything special to the soil--they are both in the same area of the back garden bed, so they have the same type of soil--and I have not given either any extra water beyond what the rain provides--it's just that one spot gets more sun. So, I would say it likes very sunny and dry. Here are photos of the two plants--can you guess which one is growing in the sunnier spot? ;-)

PS on the Delosperma--If I took the time to deadhead it, I'm sure it would be in fuller bloom right now, but the heads are so tiny and the blossoms so numerous that I lost patience with trying to deadhead it; it blooms anyway and is pretty. Let me know if you would like some of it. I have Ribbon Pink (the one that's in the sunnier spot and doing well) and Tiffindell. Actually, I should put the Tiffindell on my 'have' list--it would probably thrive if someone took it and gave it a sunny spot.

Gita, that is interesting about the boxwoods. I am not sure whether it is American boxwood, English boxwood or what, so I'm attaching a couple photos of one of the boxwood hedges (there is a 2nd similar clump), plus a close-up.


This message was edited Aug 5, 2013 5:35 PM