Tina
Seattle,WA
Posts: 409
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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:57 pm Post subject: Hate my lawn. Want to get it out of sight.. |
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Well, not actually out of sight but covering the ugliness. This is the lawn I inherited from my previous homeowner. It is covered with grass and weeds. The lawn is 20 * 10 ft. I don't want to go to the trouble of weeding it. Can I just cover the lawn with landscape fabric and put mulch on top of it? Do I have to till the soil? My flower beds are along the edges and are weed / grass free. I don't plan to plant anything in the center. What is the easiest way to solve this 'weedy'/ 'ugly lawn' problem?
Thanks for your help.
Tina
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Last edited by Tina on Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:20 am; edited 1 time in total
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mtathome
PacNW of US
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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I think I'd replace the grass with attractive paving and add a couple of planters with interesting specimen plants.
That could be expensive, though.
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Droopy
 Regular Plants Contributor
Western Norway
Posts: 9272
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| Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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At the back we covered a similar sized area with ground cover and gravel. We put a raised circular bed in one end and planted roses, and some flowering shrubs to the north. We put down a few paving stones and placed a bench there too.
We got rid of lots of "lawn" by covering it with wet newspapers and bark. We planted acid-soil plants everywhere and it's now the front border.
I could have used a ground cover, but I'm always moving my plants about. They should have been equipped with wheels.
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timestocome
Houston, Texas
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:31 am Post subject: |
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I've been getting rid of my lawn too. It seems a horrible waste of time.
First I dug up the grass and that was a job.
Then I learned the better way.
Spray it with your favorite herbacide. Cover all of it with 3 to 4 sheets of news paper, then cover with 3"-4" of soil.
We'be been wiping out a 10'x10' square each weekend and hope to wipe out the last of it next weekend.
I love the way it looks and am looking forward to all the local spring plant sales. Lots of new space to fill.
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Tina
Seattle,WA
Posts: 409
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| Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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Hmmm... Thats very interesting Timestocome.
But will 2" - 4" of soil be enough for plants. And won't weeds creep up anyway? Let us know how your lawn does eventually. Good luck.
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trencher
Leabanon Tn
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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Hardscape it with some type of gravel and boder it, or make it into a water feature.
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Green Giant
united kingdom
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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Why don't you just invest in to some artificial grass?
Your lawn will look soo much better in the end.
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Allison
Chicago
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:14 am Post subject: lawn |
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I have to admit the sounds of more plantings is tempting, but I still like grass. Go with your instinct, though. Adding groundcover, hostas, ferns and wildflowers sounds more fun than fighting weeds.
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dvmcmrhp52
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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Spray the grass with roundup, or something similar, allow that to kill the grass, cover with landscape fabric and add stone or mulch as you see fit.
If you want to plant it, fogrt the fabric, and add topsoil then plant and add mulch. If you are going to use stone after planting as a decorative touch, you will need to place landscape fabric on top of the added topsoil before the stone so the stone does not work it's way into the soil through the freeze and thaw cycle.
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pigeontoad
Western US zone 5
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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Mulching sounds like a great idea; you live in a wonderful climate for acid loving plants such as camelias and azalias. If you don't have time to take care of a high maintenance lawn, this is definitely the way to go! 
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OrganicAlan
Boring, Maryland
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject: Green Concrete Lawn |
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Hi,
The most Extreme case of "Hate My Lawn" Syndrome I've ever seen was an auctioneer in california.
When I visited his house.
He had concreted his small front and back yard.
Then PAINTED the Concrete GREEN!
I think that's a bit excessive. But I like the NO MORE MOWING part of his solution.
Glenn
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Frank
Administrator
Originally Galway, Ireland
Posts: 12349
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:21 pm Post subject: Re: Green Concrete Lawn |
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| OrganicAlan wrote: | | Then PAINTED the Concrete GREEN! |
At least they wouldn't have to deal with weeds. But I agree, that is excessive 
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MissesGarden
MN
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:50 pm Post subject: Your soil might be your problem |
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When your grass does poorly, and weeds can set in a few things are going on:
Your soil is dead from years of chemicals and you will need to add micro-organisms via compost or manure. Try top-dressing your lawn rather than removing it. It absorbs heat, turns out oxygen and feels good on bare feet,
Besides, where are animals and kids suppose to play if you have no green space for them?
If you hate to mow or maintenance in general - try a low growing naturally short grass. Maybe even plant some wildflowers in it for a soft feeling.
Peace
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