Each of the posts in this series has showcased sections of our yard and what we've done in each section including before and after photos.
Part 1 and Part 2: Removing Impervious Surfaces
Part 3: Removing Stone Mulch
Part 4: Removing Invasive Species and Smothering Grass
Part 5: Smothering More Grass and Planting Woodland Natives
Part 6: Planting Natives on a Steep Hillside
Part 7: Planting the Hillside
Part 8: Removing More Stone Mulch and Planting Prairie Plugs
Part 9 is the area to the north of our house. There was a large white pine tree that we removed right away because it was dead and posing a hazard to our house and the neighbor's house.
Underneath the pine tree was again several layers of plastic and stone mulch which had essentially sterilized the soil of any beneficial bacteria and fungi.
Here is the before photo. Some tartarian honeysuckle shrubs and stone mulch.
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| April 2005. Stone mulch removed. Starting to remove wood wall. |
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| Snow cover, February 2010. Plant stems sticking up through snow |
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| Early May 2010. Prairie plants emerging. Lupines and Columbines flowering in background. |
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| Late June 2010. |
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| Mid July 2010. |
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| August 2011 |
This has been one of the most difficult areas for us. We have added most of our home compost here to try to rebuild a layer of organic matter and reintroduce beneficial bacteria. After 5 years, last summer we felt like the plants were starting to fill in the area.
I plan to overseed this section as well as the hillside with a short grass prairie mix this spring.
Another spectacular transformation Heather! I would love to see all the butterflies visiting this garden! Wonderful! I am taken by the contrast of imagination and knowledge for wildlife in your before and after shots. It is nearly profound in the differences revealed in landscape and in the mind of the stewards.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol,
ReplyDeleteThis spot has become a great area for pollinators. I'm looking forward to finding some new visitors this year.
Heather
Heather, I have begun to study the soil here as well to get it to grow more natives successfully...I love the echinacea and glad to hear I am not the only one overseeding areas with native mixes to get them to grow..it is an never ending challenge but so worth it...
ReplyDeleteHi Heather,
ReplyDeleteI've awarded you the stylish blogger award! Visit my blog for more details :)
Hi Donna,
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear more about your project sometime.
Heather
The former owners certainly liked the sparse stone mulch look didn't they? All that effort in a garden to keep plants from growing - seems rather backwards doesn't it. Your echinacea is much nicer.
ReplyDeleteHi SeaBlush,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the award, I'm honored. I will visit you blog for the details.
Heather
Hi Marguerite,
ReplyDeleteYes it certainly is on the side of smothering nature. It is strange, many landscapes in Minnesota look like that with lots of stone mulch.
Heather