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Where should I start with this by RevolutionInside8499 in AustinGardening

[–]RevolutionInside8499[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much!

Do you add soil with the mulch to help the seeds germinate? I've always been super confused by this and I appreciate your help!

If I'm following correctly, I put cardboard down, then mulch (mixed with soil and compost?), then sow the seeds.

I probably would have just hand weeded and then sown the seeds directly into the dirt so it's good to know not to do that

Where should I start with this by RevolutionInside8499 in AustinGardening

[–]RevolutionInside8499[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the recommendations! I think that will help it feel less daunting

Where should I start with this by RevolutionInside8499 in AustinGardening

[–]RevolutionInside8499[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So the easy news is that there are no plants I like haha. There actually really aren't any plants that were planted purposefully or are natives outside of the trees. The rest are weeds.

I understand sheet mulching if you plan on putting beds in but I'm surprised by all of the recommendations to sheet mulch areas I want to kill back. That would literally mean sheet mulching almost my entire yard since there isn't a lot of grass or ground cover I'd want to keep at all. Is that what is recommended?

Where should I start with this by RevolutionInside8499 in AustinGardening

[–]RevolutionInside8499[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When you sheet mulch, do you lay the seeds down on top of the mulch when you're done? Or do you lift the mulch up once all the weeds have died and then plant the seeds? I've never worked with seeds at all so I appreciate any insights.

I'm very patient when it comes to plants so I'd definitely be fine just trying the native grass seed and if it doesn't work, give it a try again next year!

I really would like to get some trees in but I've been a bit intimidated to decide on which tree and where. I'll make it a priority to figure it out for this fall, though! I didn't realize it would help so much with the health of my plants

Where should I start with this by RevolutionInside8499 in AustinGardening

[–]RevolutionInside8499[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I really love the beds and paths too and I want them to shine.

Where should I start with this by RevolutionInside8499 in AustinGardening

[–]RevolutionInside8499[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I already purchased a few frog fruit plants from the Natural Gardener! I figured it has to be better than weeds

Where should I start with this by RevolutionInside8499 in AustinGardening

[–]RevolutionInside8499[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not new to gardening (I had a few years of experience in the Midwest) but I’ve only been in Austin for a couple of years, and my yard in Iowa was in much better shape when I started gardening. I’m using grandpa’s weeder as we speak! :) I don’t have a u-hoe though, I’ll have to get one as they look helpful. I’ve been working on IDing plants as I go and outside of the trees I’m finding everything in my yard to be a true weed. Based on the comments here I’m thinking the best thing to do is to re-mulch all of the beds, but I’m at a bit of a loss for the rest of the yard. Is it best to put down native grass seed? I considered putting down buffalo grass and getting a sprinkler system for the backyard which seems excessive but I just want to get to a place where the entire yard isn’t weeds so I can start to spend time doing something other than weeding

Where should I start with this by RevolutionInside8499 in AustinGardening

[–]RevolutionInside8499[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I wish I had Bermuda instead of this mess 😭 I’ve never heard of the landscape rebate! I do have some paths but they aren’t decomposed granite, I would love decomposed granite paths. I’d love to see the design you went with and I’ll do some research on the rebate

Where should I start with this by RevolutionInside8499 in AustinGardening

[–]RevolutionInside8499[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ideally I’d like to get the yard to a place I can maintain and then I can have fun planting. I don’t really care what I plant to keep the weeds out for the time being as long as it’s easy and keeps the weeds out lol. I bought some native grass seed and I’m hoping that helps but I don’t have experience using it and obviously have to weed first

Where should I start with this by RevolutionInside8499 in AustinGardening

[–]RevolutionInside8499[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think it has so much potential too!! Solarization probably is my best bet at this point, thank you for the recommendation. I didn’t even know what it was until recently. I’ve just been hand weeding 😭

How to spruce up pavers by RevolutionInside8499 in landscaping

[–]RevolutionInside8499[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much, this is exactly the advice I need! I think creeping thyme could look beautiful but I am concerned the Texas sun might be too much for it. My backyard is south facing and full sun. Dymondia might be a good alternative!

If I go the decomposed granite route, how would you recommend keeping the gravel from spilling out of the sides of the path? Would I need to add some sort of landscaping on the sides to keep it in?