Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 8Mar 08, 2013 4:45 pm I have a Natue Strip like yours. Tried many weed killers, but each time new varieties returned. Then, at the start of Summer 2012, I covered it with thick, black sheets of Poly. Peg it down thoroughly for as long as possible through Summer. On removing everything should be dead and decomposed. More importantly, the seeds will be scorched and dead as well. It's called Solarisation, in our lingo, but on Google try Solarization for more info. Spray heavy and hard when you take it off. Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 9Mar 08, 2013 6:48 pm Not a method that fixes the long term problem. Also spraying weed sprays on barren soil does little. Weed sprays are only effective if they are absorbed into the leaves of a weed. No weed = wasting money and time. The weeds will be back in no time as the seeds blow in on the wind. (as mentioned above) Also be extremely aware of the problems with weedkillers. The long term types (pre emergents) cause many other problems both in and out of your home. The short term ones also amount to combined environmental damage as their residues find their way into runoff and into water ways and wet lands. There is also growing concern on the effects many have on human health. Many (one popular type especially) are widely known to be a problem but are still allowed to be sold in Australia. There is also the costs involved with having to buy them all the time and the cost of your time which could be spent fishing or drinking beer with mates at a BBQ. This thread is a great story because you've become aware of the problems with what so many do with the best of intentions. The result of that is going to be an amazing new landscape. Use plants sold in tubes to do it and the costs will be negligible. The perfect time of year to begin planning it. In a month or two will be great to execute the plan when it cools and rains fall more often. Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 10Mar 13, 2013 12:59 pm Thanks Fu Manchu and others. I have begun planning and had a great chat with a friends husband who is a keen gardener and has offered several plant cuttings from his garden. They live locally so I know his plants will work in my yard too. Trying to organise some hands to help with landscaping as I haven't done any gardening\landscaping before in my life Hope to put up some updates in a couple of weeks when I start re-doing the front yard. Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 12Mar 23, 2013 9:50 pm We have massive problems with weeds here (Melbourne outer north). I agree with the previous suggestions of plantings to control them. We have lomandras, correas and eremphilas that are going great guns up here. Native, bird attracting, very low water requirements once established and they grow so densely that the weeds don't stand a chance. We will be filling in some gaps with some more plants in the coming months. I've just planted a few more callistemon " white anzac" that also thrive up here even in some difficult soil. There are so many native options that can give your garden a lovely lush look, control weeds and still have low maintenance and water requirements. Good luck, weeds are a pain! I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 13Mar 25, 2013 3:07 pm Just posting an update of where I got to. On the weekend tackled one section of the front yard to clear out white pebbles, move a couple of existing plants around, mulch that area using pine bark mulch and build a path to the front door. We ran out of mulch so there is a thin layer only at the moment, however I will be ordering in bulk from a local landscape place when I get to the working on the rest of the front yard (which should be next weekend).
My local bunnings did not have zeolite or zeochlor so could not apply to the area worked on last weekend. So off to BAAG it is for me. I should be able to add zeolite to the worked on area at a later date though? Photo time! WIP around middday - Area to the left cleared of pebbles and partly mulched, with flax grass re-positioned in front of the ugly tap to hide it Some of the pebbles cleared was used to top up the area near the fence with the conical plants. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Exhausted at 5.30 PM, but the path is done, pavers laid, Yucca moved to it's new position. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ I don't have many plants on that worked on area yet, but will be buying some over the next couple of days to plant in area right of the front door path. Will use some of those new plants in the area to the left as well. Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 14Mar 25, 2013 3:09 pm joles We have massive problems with weeds here (Melbourne outer north). I agree with the previous suggestions of plantings to control them. We have lomandras, correas and eremphilas that are going great guns up here. Native, bird attracting, very low water requirements once established and they grow so densely that the weeds don't stand a chance. We will be filling in some gaps with some more plants in the coming months. I've just planted a few more callistemon " white anzac" that also thrive up here even in some difficult soil. There are so many native options that can give your garden a lovely lush look, control weeds and still have low maintenance and water requirements. Good luck, weeds are a pain! I googled the plants you suggested and I like the look of correas and eremphilas. Still working on a layout for the second half of the front yard and I think these 2 will go well with what I have in mind. Thanks! Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 15Mar 25, 2013 4:55 pm Already a big improvement just removing that small area of pebbles! Make sure you post more pics as you progress, the front will be full of plants before you know it. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 16Mar 27, 2013 3:02 pm I have a question on the application of zeolite - once it is mixed through the top 30 cm of soil, can I start planting straightaway? Or do I have to wait a day or water and wait?? Sorry, newbie question The builder has mixed sand through the (clay) soil, so apart from zeolite I don't really need to add anything else for what will be planting ground for aussie native plants? Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 17Mar 28, 2013 1:52 am You sure can It's inert. Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 18Mar 28, 2013 1:53 am Add a small amount of organic compost if you have sufficient funds. If not add it later Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 19Mar 28, 2013 9:45 am Fu Manchu You sure can It's inert. Thank you I am leaving work early today to get zeolite either from Clark Rubber or a Pool products place near where I live as my local Bunnings doesn't stock zeolite or zeochlor. Re: Re-doing frontyard to combat weeds - feedback please! 20Mar 28, 2013 9:16 pm I am staggered to hear so many of those stores "don't" stock Zeochlor. I have it on extremely good authority it HAS to be in every shop. Never mind. Get in touch with Castle Mountain Zeolite also to find who near you is selling it. On another note, there is a fair bit of unfounded rubbish being spread by one or two individuals/businesses saying Zeolite is not suitable for your garden. In particular, the ZeoChlor brand. This has far more to do with them getting their nose out of joint about others selling zeolite cheaper than it does for the concept of helping people get more for their money from their gardens. 3 6832 The DIY project can be broken into two major steps. Planning and Design and Construction. Both of these steps are as important as one another to ensure you give… 0 5310 Hi group, have some damage to the door frame and skirting board. It's a side door to the laundry area. Only has a security door. I had a termite inspection (note drill… 0 5226 |