permaculture

["Forest Garden" <forestgarden@gvtc.com>]

Hi Robyn and Wood,

I've tried comfrey and I have a patch started again this year.  Although
comfrey is usually considered invasive - it just can't take the heat out
here.  I am trying to grow some in patches in cooler, shady spots because I
want to use it instead of seaweed for making compost tea.  But comfrey is
hard to grow here - it only does well in a cooler micro-niche.

I have some vetch growing great as an experimental plot around the edge of a
garden area and it is doing well.  I didn't realize it could be used to
out-compete grass.  I will definately give that a try next fall.  And thnaks
for the tip about the fencing for support.

Thanks again,

Marjory


----- Original Message -----
From: <woodsjay@cox.net>
To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2006 8:48 PM
Subject: Re: [permaculture] using old carpet


> Where I've had the problem of grasses (including bermuda grasses, crown
vetch has solved the problem. However, crown vetch can't solve the problem
unsupported. The use of old wire fencing which will allow the crown vetch to
get up in the air will do the trick.
> >
> > From: "Forest Garden" <forestgarden@gvtc.com>
> > Date: 2006/01/29 Sun PM 02:17:30 EST
> > To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> > Subject: Re: [permaculture] using old carpet
> >
> > Hi Neils,
> >
> > Thank you for your response.  I currently use living mulches (white and
red
> > clovers) in areas directly around the tree in areas I have hand removed
the
> > bermuda grass.  I tried planting a variety of legumes directly into the
> > grasses - cow peas, winter peas, vetches, clovers, etc. as appropriate
for
> > each season.  The legumes could not compete with the grasses.  I was
hoping
> > the cow peas would at least shade them out some, but no.  I've also been
> > trying to move the soil micro-biology towards more fungually based in an
> > attempt to weaken the hold of the grasses.
> >
> > It is a continual effort to keep the bermuda clear in the rings around
each
> > tree that I have.  In addition to simply keeping back the grasses from
the
> > existing inner rings, I want to expand those rings as the tree roots
will be
> > wanting to spread out further as the trees get older.  I thought to lay
out
> > the carpet in a ring outside of the inner ring.  The carpet would weaken
the
> > grass so the hand removeal would be easier.  The only thing I've found
that
> > stops the grass is blocking from light over a long period of time.  I've
> > tried almost everyhting else - including 20% vinegar in the middle of a
two
> > month drought.  The grass thanked me for the moisture and kept right on
not
> > even noticing the acidity...
> >
> > Black or clear plastic does work somewhat but needs a lot of rocks and
logs
> > to keep it held down.  Stiff carpet would be easiest to use and would
stay
> > in place in a windy situation.
> >
> > Oddly enough, thick layers of cardboard and hay for mulch really didn't
work
> > that well.  The grass grew right through it, and very quickly.
> >
> > I don't intend to keep the carpet there forever - only for 6 to 9 months
> > which would be long enough to really retard the grass.  The plan is that
I
> > could retard the grass enough to be able to remove it easily.  Then I
would
> > plant with living mulches, and hopefully expand the rings outer further.
> >
> > If you've never experienced it - you have no idea how tenacious bermuda
> > grass is!  I absolutely love it in the pastures since it is such a great
> > cover and holds the soils in so well even with heavy grazing.  But in
the
> > garden or orchad.... yikes.
> >
> > - Marjory
> >
>
>
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