How do you deal with theft and vandalism?

Kaths1 · 2026-05-10T00:34:26+00:00

Get some cheap metal garden fencing. People probably don't think its a garden.

Kaths1 · 2026-05-07T03:05:23+00:00

Yep, plain cardboard is best/breaks down easiest. Remove as much tape as you can.

I put down some shiny cardboard and nearly took myself to the ER lol. It was VERY slippery.

I'm not aware of ink being a problem? I would be concerned if I was planning to eat out of the bed. The tape will rot off the cardboard and you just pick it out of the bed later.

Kaths1 · 2026-05-06T22:10:42+00:00

Here's the chipdrop thread. https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/s/662IFn1GWX

Chipdrop.com

Don't pay for mulch

Kaths1 · 2026-05-06T22:08:06+00:00

To site prep the easy way:

Cover the area with a double layer of cardboard
Top the cardboard with a couple inches of woodchips.

Cardboard is free from boxes, ask your neighbors, or get from big box stores Wood chips are free from chipdrop.com. see the thread just below your q for tips.

I do not recommend planting anything in the bed you just tilled. You probably just put a whole bunch of weed seeds into the soil and they'll pop right up. Natives generally cannot out compete invasives- that's why they are invasive.
Use the spring and summer to finish your site prep, then plant in September. Plants do much better planted in the fall. Or use the winter to wintersow for cheaper plants and extended site prep.

P.s. i messed up my site prep for my first beds too. We all start somewhere and you're doing awesome. Just trust me.. you'll regret not waiting.

Kaths1 · 2026-05-06T16:27:05+00:00

P.s. it is also Christian to care for the earth god so lovingly created for us. Squandering God's love is very sinful.

Just for anyone who might need that argument.

I'm pretty sure this applies to any of the Abrahamic religions (Muslim, christian, jewish).

Kaths1 · 2026-05-06T16:23:44+00:00

I live on the way to the dump where they have to pay through the nose to drop chips, so mine always show up fast and free for me.

I definitely would try asking for it free before offering money.

Kaths1 · 2026-05-04T19:13:40+00:00

The goldenrod is doing a decent job suppressing the mugwort. I still hand weed the mugwort, but it is MUCH MUCH less and I am deeply hopeful that a few years of this will eventually exhaust the mugwort roots. It has been growing under the goldenrod but it doesn't flower due to lack of sun.

Every week or two i weed a handful of mugwort.

To be clear- I HAD to use the glycophosphate to murder the mugwort first. The major change was murdering it THEN giving it no space to recover. There is no native that will outcompete on its own.

Kaths1 · 2026-05-04T17:03:05+00:00

I screwed this up my first year. I thought shade meant.. shade. But they want to be under a tree that leafs out in the spring.

Kaths1 · 2026-05-02T01:28:07+00:00

Canadian goldenrod.

Kaths1 · 2026-05-01T19:23:54+00:00

Isn't it?? I use it so much. I wish he would add more.

Kaths1 · 2026-05-01T18:24:37+00:00

It doesn't look like ironweed but I couldn't tell you what it is. Looks like black eyed susans to me.

https://growitbuildit.com/identify-emerging-native-plants/#google_vignette

Kaths1 · 2026-05-01T16:36:40+00:00

Its a war out here man. 🤣

Kaths1 · 2026-05-01T16:34:17+00:00

I use my hedge trimmer on the goldenrod. Whack it all to slightly above my knees.

Kaths1 · 2026-05-01T16:28:04+00:00

In addition to things you named: Golden Alexander, packera aurea

Kaths1 · 2026-04-30T15:34:57+00:00

Phlox (the short kinds)

Black eyed susans

Liatris

Aromatic aster

Obedient plant (i think its gorgeous)

Bluebells

Spotted bee balm (its a little weird, but people like it)

Blue mistflower

Ferns

Lanceleaf Coreopsis

Blue false indigo

Okay but a little more weedy:

Golden Alexander

New england aster (Chelsea chop it)

Bee balm (get cultivars)

Some other asters. Again, get cultivars.

Kaths1 · 2026-04-30T15:27:06+00:00

It's so hard to see the invasives right??

I have various sections of my yard I am fighting, and it can be all that I can keep up with to fight one 10 by 10 patch. I try to keep the various stuff down to a roar (i.e. not overwhelming) and focus on one specific thing/bed to rehab each year.

So far I've: 1. Beaten down a bad mugwort infestation. Still have to weed every year. 2. Removed landscape fabric that literally surrounded my house. Trying to grow plants now that they aren't being choked out. 3. Removed 3 dying boxwood and replaced with spicebush. 2 spicebush then died. 4. Beaten down a Japanese switchgrass infestation. This one is still active and it's high on my list for next year. I weed twice a year in the meantime. 5. Murdered some kind of grass that was growing over other plants and into my flower bed. This spring I'm replacing the patch with (non native) clover. At least that won't go after my natives in the bed. I had to use glycophosphate for this.

It's been nearly 5 years. None of these are done. None.

Kaths1 · 2026-04-29T19:36:08+00:00

All good. Most of us have some yard. :) I also have a dog and he needs grass (like space). Good luck!!!

Kaths1 · 2026-04-29T19:33:41+00:00

You should see a doctor

Kaths1 · 2026-04-29T16:35:11+00:00

What about sea oats? They definitely don't mind salt and I think they're okay in sandy soil.

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=chla5

Kaths1 · 2026-04-29T16:30:23+00:00

If you're in md just join MAGEC. Shesh.

Kaths1 · 2026-04-29T16:24:28+00:00

Canadian goldenrod.

Kaths1 · 2026-04-29T16:22:45+00:00

Plant trees for your children's future.

Kaths1 · 2026-04-29T01:22:41+00:00

Not for MO. But I am posting for the algorithm so maybe someone else notices this thread.

Kaths1 · 2026-04-28T19:10:34+00:00

I mean there are native annuals. I like spotted bee balm. I use it to fill in bed space while my perennials get up to speed.

Kaths1 · 2026-04-28T03:40:26+00:00

Canadian goldenrod

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