tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post2337541228603204408..comments2024-03-27T22:01:59.919-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Cardboard MulchLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-12187618078491617532009-10-04T08:25:32.161-04:002009-10-04T08:25:32.161-04:00Trapunto, our realtor told us that they always adv...Trapunto, our realtor told us that they always advise sellers to use "unknown." Pretty sad, actually. I was heartened that Michelle at Boulderneigh had such success.<br /><br />Robin, we need to compare notes!!!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-48575327098656453052009-10-04T01:48:34.631-04:002009-10-04T01:48:34.631-04:00I just saw your link to this post and had to smile...I just saw your link to this post and had to smile. I am just trying out the straw and cardboard method for my garden for the first time.Robinhttp://farmfolly.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-51592043015707724062009-07-20T18:18:32.935-04:002009-07-20T18:18:32.935-04:00"Mama's going to go outside and see if sh..."Mama's going to go outside and see if she can't make the flooding stop."--what a story! I am in the process of undoing a lot of house-destroying landscaping decisions, so I really winced. It's amazing how much a structure's integrity depends on the dirt, and surface and subsurface water doing what they're meant to do, especially in climates where the rain comes all at once. I love your garden pictures. You've done an amazing lot since you moved in.<br /><br />Oh, and disclosure. I've been thinking about that. Even when it's required it isn't good for much until it's too late, and unless you want to litigate. There's no accountability as long as they take the middle road. In our case, the sellers just checked the "Don't know," box for everything--standard practice. Even if they did know there was mold in the basement, who can prove it? I think the fact that they sawed out chunks of moldy sheetrock and covered the wall with plywood is a pretty good indication they knew about the mold, but they could always say, "Well, we didn't KNOW the mold was still there. Maybe it died off after we put the wood up."Trapuntohttp://trapunto.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-63545107057088620722009-07-20T01:04:54.232-04:002009-07-20T01:04:54.232-04:00Peg, it seems that the black plastic mulch was pre...Peg, it seems that the black plastic mulch was pretty common at one time, doesn't it? I think I'll be picking it up around here forever.<br /><br />MiniKat, I'm with you. I sometimes wonder if folks really think things through before jumping on the band wagon. <br /><br />I'm finding that so far, the cardboard is working great as mulch. Nothing is growing through it, unlike my vegetable garden, where grass is growing through the newspaper.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-2361248110556407462009-07-19T17:00:41.373-04:002009-07-19T17:00:41.373-04:00How awful! Who in their right minds would cover a...How awful! Who in their right minds would cover an entire yard with non-permeable plastic?<br /><br />The black landscaping cloth (the just rots away and I hate using) would have been a better idea. Not spreading anything unnatural across an entire yard is still the best idea though.MiniKathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15395914933366678553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-55122531643237650722009-07-18T14:43:39.276-04:002009-07-18T14:43:39.276-04:00the foundation plantings in both our Georgia house...the foundation plantings in both our Georgia house and in this house in SC had black plastic mulch. It has all been removed except for the occasional sliver I still find. Never thought of it as causing possible flooding! Just thought it was a terrible thing to do to plants.Peg in South Carolinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07886923838871937466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-25022876287670045732009-07-18T01:53:16.622-04:002009-07-18T01:53:16.622-04:00Renee I've seen that fabric in garden catalogs...Renee I've seen that fabric in garden catalogs and wondered how well it worked. And I'm amazed that Lilly will eat veggies! Silly dog.<br /><br />Theresa, you're welcome!<br /><br />Michelle, I think it all falls under "as is," which seems to be the trend in real estate today. We bought this place from the heirs, who were advised to put "unknown" on the disclosure form since they didn't live here and weren't familiar with the home. I think it's great that you got your septic problem taken care of that way! Good for you! My ex wouldn't have pursued that course of action. <br /><br />Bettina, and to think I was going to get rid of all the nandina! Now you need to tell me how to dye with it!<br /><br />Mim, I learned a lot from that experience. I suppose that's where the saying comes from, "Experience is the best teacher." Those are things I definitely won't forget.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-44837219145275234292009-07-17T16:53:33.930-04:002009-07-17T16:53:33.930-04:00Amazing story. At least you know the ropes for you...Amazing story. At least you know the ropes for your new house and won't make that kind of mistake!Mimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10489112728247120646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-53942842194515968662009-07-17T15:29:07.850-04:002009-07-17T15:29:07.850-04:00the story about the black plastic is so weird! why...the story about the black plastic is so weird! why would anyone put plastic down, just to cover it with soil? surely most weeds can grow nicely in only a little soil, so what use was that in the first place? we have a neighbour with a "black plastic mania" as well - but there's just too much uncovered ground for him to get a flood like you did...unfortunately, maybe being flooded would teach him a lesson? anyway, your garden seems to be progressing rather nicely - there's nothing like enjoying the first pickings after a lot of work:))(btw, you can dye with nandina....)Woolly Bitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961632742998726155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-49661534679243153492009-07-17T12:02:59.938-04:002009-07-17T12:02:59.938-04:00I cannot BELIEVE the government doesn't have t...I cannot BELIEVE the government doesn't have to disclose anything!!! The very first house we bought had undisclosed septic troubles, but I was able to follow a paper trail and persuade the previous owners that we had a legal case against them for non-disclosure. They paid for the new system....Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01550786937196525098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-10024637411268112452009-07-17T09:56:35.464-04:002009-07-17T09:56:35.464-04:00Oh what a great idea for using cardboard! Thank yo...Oh what a great idea for using cardboard! Thank you Leigh and Heather!Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09574936988046982209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-2732758231753745732009-07-17T09:46:31.230-04:002009-07-17T09:46:31.230-04:00the cardboard sounds like a great idea. Our yard ...the cardboard sounds like a great idea. Our yard has the fabric weed barrier all around...however with all the hard rains that we've been having there is now soil on all of it and so weeds are taking over. It is providing Lilly with some veggies as she keeps munching on it, but seeing as she isn't a goat she isn't munching nearly enough. sigh! It looks like I'll have to move all the rock, then the soil and then replace the rock.<br /><br />I'm so sorry to hear the story of your house in TX. We continue to find and deal with the choices the first owner made for our house. Yesterday it was electrical.Renee Nefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08167893445846427824noreply@blogger.com