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Naturalization
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The Monday Garden
June 1, 2003, issue no. 62
Getting Rid of the Sod
by Sue Sweeney
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| To join the "more garden, less lawn" club, first
you have to get rid of the old sod. The first time I did it, I dug
it up which was hard, sweaty work . By last fall, when I did this
piece (the bush used to be in the lawn), I'd found there's an easier way: Smother
the unwanted sod. It's that simple. |
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The basic idea: Outline the
new garden area. I like to use bricks; some people use an old garden
hose or dig a shallow trench. Then, spread mulch on the
unwanted grass. Check for trees or shrubs roots under the new
garden, as more than 2" of mulch will smother their roots.
Every couple of weeks, cover any grass that's poked up and pull the weeds.
After the sod's rotted out (several months), prepare for planting by
digging down 12" to 18" and mixing in 1/4 peat with the old
mulch and rotted sod first
Soil Screening: For great plants and easier
planting, use a screen to break compost and soil into small pieces and
remove debris. You end up with soil like chocolate pudding.
Garden centers sell soil screens. Purists, and people trying to
stretch the bucks, can make one by stapling a piece of hardware cloth with
1/2" mesh to any sturdy frame that fits over a garbage can or wheel
barrow. (Use reclaimed rocks and pebbles as mulch for the
hot-dry section of your garden, path edgings, etc.)
Faster method: If you don't have to worry
about tree and shrub roots, you can put a layer of newspaper or other
thick composting material under the mulch. Or just put down more
mulch. Some people (who are not purist) put down a thick
piece of black plastic with ventilation holes, weighed with rocks and
disguised with mulch. Purists dig up the sod and turn it over before
mulching.
Fall Leaves Method: If you're starting the
new bed in the fall for spring planting, first give yourself accolades for
long-term planning. Then, outline the bed as above, put down
newspaper, then rake your fall leaves on top. Weigh down with
newspaper, branches, burlap, etc. Unless you like weeding, don't
include any unwanted plants with seeds in your pile.
Instant Garden method: You can short-cut the
process by first outlining the bed, then digging a few deep holes through
the sod for the must-put-in-right-now bushes or perennials. Make
holes about twice the size of the plants' current root balls and 12"
to 18" inches deep. Screen the soil from the holes, mix in your
peat and plant away. Then mulch the rest of the new bed over the
sod. Once the sod's deteriorated enough to break up (or when you get
around to it), properly dig the rest of bed.
Creeping Edge method: Every year, move the
garden edge out about a foot, mulch the sod in the new part. Dig up
and prepare last year's edge, then fill it with your expanding
perennials. Add stepping stone stones access the garden interior. |
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