Tell me what you think of this. When we moved in 4 yrs ago, our back yard was hardpan clay and forest (trees were suffering!). No way could we afford to bring in enough soil to cover, even an inch at a time, which is all the gardener-folk said you can add without suffocating the trees. So we broke our backs mulching around trees, creating islands and paths for our future woodland garden, and giving the microbes nitrogen to do their job. The trees that weren't diseased almost immediately began to prosper. Then people started giving us plants, and some of them were invasive varieties, and we were stupid enough to plant em. They're still there, growing slowly in the clay, but I'm kinda scared now. We have Pachysandra that's just this year taking off (3 years of mulch is now decomposed to real soil, I guess). I dreamed last night that we should take it out while we can. But I view it and the Lysimacchia as our "sunshine into soil" plants. I let them grow and scrape 'em up to compost, so in the end they're just green fertilizer (and hubby loves that Lysimacchia). I drew the line at Labrador violets, and we are fighting them mightily--the little buggers toss seeds everywhere. The ants love them, and I think they're actually farming these plants! Anyway, you get the picture. As long as I can control the invasives I can compost the heck outta them. But when is it time to put on the brakes? Is my "sunshine into soil" idea workable at all? Your thoughts and experience are most welcome.
Upside of invasives?
For me, invasives become a problem when I can't grow the plants for which I pay good money, without the freebee invasives smothering them. Generally the invasive plants just muddle along until I plant the Iris, lily , or other and start regular water schedule. Then the invasive becomes Godzilla and my bed is Tokyo. I grew chameleon plant for 6 years and wondered why everyone bad mouthed it. Then I planted Phlox paniculata in the same end of the bed. Now it is time to call for an air strike! Godzilla is on the move.
Beth
well said!! :)
Yep, thanks Turtle, that's helpful info. I have chameleon isolated and surrounded by hardpack clay so for now I'm going to leave it. But me and DH have decided to do war with the pachysandra while we still have hope of winning. I won him over by pointing out to him that we have an bed of adolescent Hellebores about 15 feet away from the Pach's. So this summer's war campaign will be against the Pach and the Labrador violets. The others are contained, and can wait for another day. Literally, we are choosing the hill to fight for, as they say.