Subject: Re: naturalizing yard
From: tomansky <tomansky@gte.net>
Organization: gte.net
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 23:03:39 -0500
Message-ID: <MOD$980123.7618@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$980122.4042@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$980123.28503@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$980123.6639@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
Hank Roberts wrote:
>I agree up to there; after that, I'd suggest that if you have access
>to enough 'woods' -- borrow 'mulch' (leaf litter, and the decaying
>darker layer under that) from the woods. Don't strip an area, of
>course; look for places you can rake up a bag or two here and there,
>ask permission if there's someone to ask; scatter some leaves or
>pine needles or whatever after you've taken some leaf litter so it
>doesn't look scalped.
>Rather than go straight into planting plants, what you'll benefit from
>in the long run is propagating the woodland _soil_ itself; it's mostly
>alive, miles of fungus mycelium and zillions of nematodes and other
>critters of all sorts in every handful. Look for some old decaying
>logs that you can scoop crumbling rotting wood from, or pick up
>and cart home. Remember that 'brown' material is going to steal nitrogen
>as it rots, the first few years, so check around for road work or
>construction where you might be able to get some green leafy material too.
Oh, shoot. He sure is right. I totally forgot to mention that I had sand to
start with and had to compost the heck out of it, and in the meantime half my
pines died, in spite of being planted with some compost. Was worth it to get
them started early, but then they were free. I am just so used to composting, I
spaced it.
David Levi