Jill and I had an email conversation the other day and we thought that others in the neighborhood might be interested. -- Rusty
Jill asked Rusty...
Do you know where we can take bagged leaves and trimmings? Jon just got a mulcher to attach to the mower and I "hope" that helps in the future. I saw that Round Rock will take tree trimmings but not leaves. Or if you know a better way to do our yard without this problem for the future that would be great too. :-) Website or whatever. We are really wanting to do our own lawn, but spring clean up always produces lots of "stuff."
Actually I have been meaning to ask you if you have a vegetable garden? I can't remember if you have one behind your wall. I am starting a small 5x5 one and am amazed by how many rocks are in the ground!! Do you think I should be concerned about deer and bunnies eating it up even in the fence?
--Jill
----------------------------------------------------
Jill,
Yes, springtime really produces a lot of stuff -- particularly leaves. I think your best bet is to just put it out with the trash. They will accept up to 6 large bags plus your trash container on pickup day. And it is all biodegradable so no problems at the landfill. And if you use large (4 foot tall) brown paper bags (Walgreen's has them, Home Depot has them) instead of plastic, then it becomes even more environmentally friendly.
We have built a raised garden, but as yet have not utilized it. A raised bed avoids the problem with having to till the soil (I mean rocks) and it is easier on the back when you are working in the garden. We may put out a few things like tomatoes, beans, and peppers this spring, but I don't know if I have the time right now.
We built our raised bed out of the leftover stones from building our wall, but a raised bed can be constructed out of cinder blocks or a wooden frame (treated lumber so it will last a few years). Then fill it with topsoil (cheaper if you order it by the cubic yard and have it delivered).
I doubt that you will have to worry about deer. Although they can jump fences up to 7 feet high, they have to be extraordinarily hungry to go to such lengths. And as our neighborhood develops, I am seeing fewer deer. They will avoid humans if they can. Rabbits probably would be a problem if you plant leafy greens or root crops with leafy greens. You can put up a cheap chicken-wire fence around your garden (it doesn't have to be more than 3 feet tall). Rabbits are more likely to try and get under a fence than jump over it. I have never had a garden in this area (Texas Hill Country, Edwards Aquifer), so it's going to be a learning experience for all of us who try. We will learn as we go and share tips (and maybe produce).
Also, you might want to consider starting a compost pile where you can dump your lawn clippings, food scraps (avoid meat scraps), egg shells, coffee grounds, etc. This will help out with both problems - lawn clippings and garden. We have a couple of compost piles that are mostly grass clippings, and after 2 years, we are seeing the formation of some very rich soil. I am going to use it to amend the garden soil. Leaves can go into it, but try to mix them well so they don't form a moisture barrier. They take a little longer to break down than the grass. Also avoid putting cedar into it. Cedar has a natural toxin in it that takes at least a year to leach out before it is usable as a mulch or compost. That's why it is so hard to get things to grow under the cedar trees.
Check out this site for some ideas and some links to composting reference sites.
--Rusty
----------------------------------------------------
Good tips! I want to make it raised and want to use rocks that are just all over the yard. probably too much dirt will seep through, so I am still contemplating that. We slowly have created a giant pile of rocks though that would be great to use.
Perhaps around some simple garden siding. I wanted to have a play date about gardening and decided I better get busy on the garden!
--Jill
----------------------------------------------------
Jill,
Creating a raised bed with rocks that you have found will work just fine. There shouldn't be much leaching of soil between the rocks. The issue I see with that is if you try to make it out of small rocks, you may have a hard time getting them to "stay put" and stand in a coherent structure without falling. If you have enough large stones, then I don't think you will have a problem. In Kansas where Berna and I grew up there are many stone walls built with only natural stones - no mortar of any kind - and some of them have stood for over a hundred years, held together only by gravity and balance. Placement is key.
Now quit reading email and go watch the KU basketball game (4pm on CBS)!!!
--Rusty
Jill asked Rusty...
Do you know where we can take bagged leaves and trimmings? Jon just got a mulcher to attach to the mower and I "hope" that helps in the future. I saw that Round Rock will take tree trimmings but not leaves. Or if you know a better way to do our yard without this problem for the future that would be great too. :-) Website or whatever. We are really wanting to do our own lawn, but spring clean up always produces lots of "stuff."
Actually I have been meaning to ask you if you have a vegetable garden? I can't remember if you have one behind your wall. I am starting a small 5x5 one and am amazed by how many rocks are in the ground!! Do you think I should be concerned about deer and bunnies eating it up even in the fence?
--Jill
----------------------------------------------------
Jill,
Yes, springtime really produces a lot of stuff -- particularly leaves. I think your best bet is to just put it out with the trash. They will accept up to 6 large bags plus your trash container on pickup day. And it is all biodegradable so no problems at the landfill. And if you use large (4 foot tall) brown paper bags (Walgreen's has them, Home Depot has them) instead of plastic, then it becomes even more environmentally friendly.
We have built a raised garden, but as yet have not utilized it. A raised bed avoids the problem with having to till the soil (I mean rocks) and it is easier on the back when you are working in the garden. We may put out a few things like tomatoes, beans, and peppers this spring, but I don't know if I have the time right now.
We built our raised bed out of the leftover stones from building our wall, but a raised bed can be constructed out of cinder blocks or a wooden frame (treated lumber so it will last a few years). Then fill it with topsoil (cheaper if you order it by the cubic yard and have it delivered).
I doubt that you will have to worry about deer. Although they can jump fences up to 7 feet high, they have to be extraordinarily hungry to go to such lengths. And as our neighborhood develops, I am seeing fewer deer. They will avoid humans if they can. Rabbits probably would be a problem if you plant leafy greens or root crops with leafy greens. You can put up a cheap chicken-wire fence around your garden (it doesn't have to be more than 3 feet tall). Rabbits are more likely to try and get under a fence than jump over it. I have never had a garden in this area (Texas Hill Country, Edwards Aquifer), so it's going to be a learning experience for all of us who try. We will learn as we go and share tips (and maybe produce).
Also, you might want to consider starting a compost pile where you can dump your lawn clippings, food scraps (avoid meat scraps), egg shells, coffee grounds, etc. This will help out with both problems - lawn clippings and garden. We have a couple of compost piles that are mostly grass clippings, and after 2 years, we are seeing the formation of some very rich soil. I am going to use it to amend the garden soil. Leaves can go into it, but try to mix them well so they don't form a moisture barrier. They take a little longer to break down than the grass. Also avoid putting cedar into it. Cedar has a natural toxin in it that takes at least a year to leach out before it is usable as a mulch or compost. That's why it is so hard to get things to grow under the cedar trees.
Check out this site for some ideas and some links to composting reference sites.
Also check out this previous post here at the Overlook Estates Post:
--Rusty
----------------------------------------------------
Good tips! I want to make it raised and want to use rocks that are just all over the yard. probably too much dirt will seep through, so I am still contemplating that. We slowly have created a giant pile of rocks though that would be great to use.
Perhaps around some simple garden siding. I wanted to have a play date about gardening and decided I better get busy on the garden!
--Jill
----------------------------------------------------
Jill,
Creating a raised bed with rocks that you have found will work just fine. There shouldn't be much leaching of soil between the rocks. The issue I see with that is if you try to make it out of small rocks, you may have a hard time getting them to "stay put" and stand in a coherent structure without falling. If you have enough large stones, then I don't think you will have a problem. In Kansas where Berna and I grew up there are many stone walls built with only natural stones - no mortar of any kind - and some of them have stood for over a hundred years, held together only by gravity and balance. Placement is key.
Now quit reading email and go watch the KU basketball game (4pm on CBS)!!!
--Rusty
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