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| Hi,
I live in SW Fort Worth, Texas. I really want to make something of my little back yard, but I need help to do it. First of all, I am inexperienced, and second of all, I am not physically strong--I am an older, retired person. My house is leased, and no one before me has ever done anything with the yard other than dump trash on it. I have never seen an earthworm or any other good bug out there, just ants, flies, and those little bugs that curl up in a ball whence they are touched. The soil, which is clay-e, needs help, which I know means it needs organic matter and probably some other things. The yard has quite a bit of shade thanks to mulberry trees around the perimeter, but they are needed to shield the house from the hot sun, as the yard faces south-southwest. So, it will essentially have to be a shade garden. I would like eventually to attract song birds and butterflies to the garden and be able to really use it and enjoy it. Is there anyone in my area that would be willing to mentor me and help me get my soil in good enough shape to be able to plant flowers, etc.? Thanks very much! jt |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Based on what I saw of the soils when I lived in south Texas what you have isn't clayey it is clay and you are right that it needs organic matter. Those Mulberry trees will provide some really good organic matter later in the fall, but what is available now? Is there a locally owned nursery that sells leaf mold, or compost, in large quantities (not 40 pound bags)? |
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- Posted by jt_gardener Central Texas (My Page) on Sun, Jun 12, 11 at 14:00
| Hi Kimmsr, There probably is someone who has it by the truck load. I saw a post for it once on Craigslist months back, but it is not there now. The biggest problem for me is getting it tilled into the hard ground. I am not physically strong enough to do it. Plus, I do not own the proper equipment. That is why I am seeking a mentor(s) who could help me. |
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- Posted by coach_grumpy 6a ID (My Page) on Sun, Jun 12, 11 at 14:52
| In addition to bulk compost, why not create a lasagna garden? Layers of compost, straw and organic material that you can grow in now and in the future as the layers decompose and add organic material to the soil. |
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- Posted by jt_gardener Central Texas (My Page) on Sun, Jun 12, 11 at 15:04
| Couch grumpy, I had thought of something similar, I suppose. I read in a book on shade gardening that instead of digging up and tilling existing soil, it would work just as well to place new healthy soil on top of the dead clay-e soil and plant in it. The author said that the plants would eventually work their way in deep into the ground. I am not sure I buy into that idea, though. Anyone else ever tried this? |
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- Posted by coach_grumpy 6a ID (My Page) on Sun, Jun 12, 11 at 15:35
| I don't think I would add more soil on top of clay. I'm trying a variation of the idea right now. I have created a straw bale garden on top of my clay soil. I recently moved and have a yard of clay. Wanted a garden, but wasn't sure where I will create raised beds. So I had 40 bales of straw delivered. End of February I seeded them with ammonia sulfate and compost to start the decomposition process within. Then I let them sit in the snow and rain for over two months. Last week I stirred them up with my fork and then added compost and minerals. Planted 20 with veggies and the rest with pumpkins. I see some seeds have sprouted. I understand that I will probably need to add more compost as the summer goes on, but next year I will have some wonderful growing medium. And this old guy doesn't have to bend over as far either. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Straw bale garden
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- Posted by rosiew 7 GA (rosemarywalsh@bellsouth.net) on Sun, Jun 12, 11 at 16:11
| jt - hope you'll delve through the treasure trove of info on the forums, especially via the search function. It would be great if you could find help locally but you'll get a huge amount of help from just reading here. Do just jump in and start lasagna gardening in spots. You will be amazed at the results. And check Craigslist often, or better yet post WANTED compost materials. I fully understand the challenges of being older and not very strong, but gardening is so rewarding. Bags too heavy to tote to where you need them? - divide them. And start collecting used coffee grounds - remarkably effective. Just do a bunch of reading so you'll know how to do this the best way.
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- Posted by dchall_san_antonio 8 San Antonio (My Page) on Mon, Jun 13, 11 at 2:33
| The biggest problem for me is getting it tilled into the hard ground. I am not physically strong enough to do it. Plus, I do not own the proper equipment. That is why I am seeking a mentor(s) who could help me. kimmsr did not suggest tilling the soil. The best approach is to lay mulch on top of the soil without disturbing the existing soil structure. |
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- Posted by louisianagal z7bMS (My Page) on Tue, Jun 14, 11 at 22:21
| Hi jt, I think the easiest thing to do is the lasagna gardening. I have done many many of these in my yard when I lived in Louisiana and now Mississippi. All of gardening is somewhat physically demanding, I am surely slowing down as I age. But there are some easier methods. First I would do some reading. Check out some books at the library if you can on what interests you, I enjoyed reading lasagna gardening books and Ruth Stout the mulch lady. Online has lots of info too. Depending on your budget you might be able to hire a young fella to do some work. I just paid a neighbor's boy and he worked 4 hrs in my yard this weekend. You can make lasagna beds just by mounding up organic matter or you can make a raised bed with wood, a raised bed kit (Sams Club had them cheap), or with bricks, pavers, cinder blocks. For shade I have columbine, hostas, hydrangea, mahonia, lorapetalum, astilbe, pieris. People also grow heuchera but I have no success with them. Hostas are easy, in my opinion, and make a nice garden. Start small. Since you want to attract birds and butterflies, get a birdbath or fountain (love, love my fountain), even a small one and some are solar. If you can, put out some shepherd's hooks or hang bird feeders in trees. These do not have to be expensive. I get best results with black sunflower seed. Butterflies usually like plants that grow in sun, so if you can find a little sun, you can put some annuals there. Even if you buy some pots (my advice buy the resin or fiberglass ones that are not heavy and don't crack in winter). You can find some that look like real stone, shop around it is fun to be on a mission. I am frugal and am always looking for a bargain. Butterflies are said to like a shallow place with little rocks for water. I use a clay saucer with smooth rocks in it. I nestle that in some flowers. Again, let me say, start small with a spot that you enjoy looking at out of a window or sitting outside. Good luck to you. Laurie |
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- Posted by TheMasterGardener1 none (My Page) on Tue, Jun 14, 11 at 23:38
| Tilling is the most labor intensive part. You may want to consider a mantis tiller and till in compost and other organic material(peat,twigs,compost,ect) with the tiller. Once have the the tiller you will want to keep expanding your garden. I dont have one but really am considering one. Get a cheap ph meter and if it is acidic add a few handfulls of lime as your tilling in all the organic material. Peat comes in 3 cu ft for 8 bucks so it is one of the cheapest ways to help soil. Adding peat and compost will be ideal. Good Luck. |
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