April 2024

This is an update to my 2023 blog.  For previous entries, please see the main Blog menu under the "What's New" drop down.

Wood Chip Paths: Last year I did not bring compost or wood chips into our garden because I did not want to introduce jumping worms to our yard.  Click for info on jumping worms. 

This winter, I noticed a tree being removed just up the street from our home. The limbs came down and were immediately chipped. Because the ground was frozen and the limbs only sat on the ground a few minutes, there is little chance that they picked up any jumping-worm eggs.  I talked to the tree trimming company and they dumped those chips in my driveway. When I distributed the light colored chips on the paths, the gardens looked small in comparison to the paths. This effect will diminish as the chips darken with age, but I decided to expand the garden, redesign the shape and simplify the path.

Redesign: We have an underground utility running the entire width of our yard about 14’ from the curb. I will need to get it marked again but I plan to move the front portion of the garden path so that it lays on top of the underground utilities. This will lessen the chance that I accidentally hit the utility while digging. It also positions the path for the final garden size.

Changing the design will convert an additional 1,100 square feet of lawn into garden. If I continue at my current pace of just over 200 square feet a year, it will take me five years to transform this lawn area into garden. Or, I could smother the entire area this summer and seed / plant it this fall or next spring. The upside of taking five years is that I can experiment on 200 square feet every year and watch for what works well in our yard. I can also save money by seeding (from my existing plants or winter sowing) and by dividing some existing plants every year.

Graphic: Original design - too many paths (in pink)

Graphic: More garden, less lawn, simplified paths

Next Steps: The next step will be to select the 200 square feet to plant this year. Then, research previously untried full sun native plants, calculate the number I need and pre-order plugs. I have six species currently seeded in winter sown containers, if they thrive, some of those will be planted along with some plant divisions and transplants from the back yard.

I will repeat that process for part shade species that go under our crabapple tree. I plan to pre-order in April and pick my plants up at the Burnsville Native Plant sale on Saturday May 18.  

The Wild Ones Twin Cities website has a good resource page that lists multiple locations that sell native plant plugs. 

Good Luck and Happy Gardening

Sue

P.S. It is too late to winter sow this year. More information on winter sowing can be found here.