I'm about 2/3 of the way around the yard with the mulch now. It's just too darn hot to do more than 4-5 wheelbarrows at a time. LOL

Jan, if you're doing 4 or 5 wheelbarrows before you melt, you're doing great! You don't have to do it all at once.

I converted my yard from lawn to mulch and beds about one square yard at a time. Per week, in the summer. I'd strip the grass and weed it, digging up as much grass roots as possible. Amend with compost, plant, fertilize, mulch and adjust the sprinklers. Then go fall in the pool for an hour to cool down . . . float around in there until my head stops pounding. I still do my gardening in summer in 10 minute increments.

So, it's been a mass of jungly weeds in the summer, but I have found a fellow who will do hand weeding for me once a week, and we're getting it under control again. As the weather cools off, the plants slow down, and the gardeners speed up. Going forward, it's a game of clean-up in the fall, catch-up all winter, and a struggle to keep up all summer. Just be sure you're having fun in there somewhere!

I know but the pile was really high and with Isaac blowing by and the new front coming in, I wanted to get the level down some so it didn't get blown away. It's a manageable size now so I can take it easier. I usually only gardening early in the morning or late in the evening during the summer. I spent a whole day out when Isaac was due trying to secure all the potted plants and get the mulch down. 2 days later I was feeling really fatigued and my heart rate was slower than usual. I went to the Dr. and she feels I was just dehydrated but set up an echo and stress test for this week just to be sure as I want to get back to the gym and start working out again. I have a ton of weight to lose and since I had weight loss surgery years ago, I regained about half of what I had lost and now the only way to get it off again is to exercise, exercise, exercise.

Ryan when you get around to those pictures I'd be interested to wee how you keep the mulch from the street and or your neighbor. I share a strip of yard with a neighbor and can't conceive how I'd keep the mulch on my side and not have his lawn workers run over my side with the riding lawnmower.

Jim

How about putting a line 2 rows high of wall blocks down the side lines Jim?

Jim, I have an edge of mulch along the "mow what grows" road easement that gets mowed by my neighbor. I will admit I walk along the edge about twice per summer with the Round-Up extended control. This keeps a little border clear for the mower to drive along, and also helps keep the Bermuda grass from invading the flower bed. I also spread a bag or two of fresh mulch along the edge at least once a year.

Gotta use Florimulch, melaleuca mulch (made from an invasive tree!!) It is excellent for matting together and not floating around much. When I put it down, I pack it with my hands or feet, then hose it down to settle the fibers together.

Obviously from this picture it's time to do it again!

Ann, if I did that I'd be asking for a problem with the neighbor, his lawn guy would have to trim with a weed wacker and probably charge more, two bricks high would probably hit the blade on the mower. I think that mulching the whole yard is just a pipe dream for me anyway, too much work and too little energy to do it. Wish I had given it a go a few years ago.

Well, I understand the problem with the shared line with the neighbor. And yes, his lawn guy probably would charge him extra.
Jim, if you do it a bit at the time it's not so bad --- especially if you work on it in the cool months (like starting now). Even if you don't do the whole yard but get large patches turned into mulch/plants it can make a huge difference in your maintenance in future not to mention water usage. Of course if you already have a sprinkler system then that could present problems as you wouldn't need to water the mulched area nearly as much as the grass areas.

We were so happy with what we did down south & boy oh boy did it ever cut down on the work not to mention $$$$ for water. But honestly, if we had to begin doing the work today --- we aren't physically up to doing it.

Jim
Can you do something like I do? These pieces are about 6 in tall and 10 in long. I bury them 3 inches so only 3 inches is above ground. It is high enough to hold back 3 in of mulch but low enought to mow up to if you run the side wheels along the top Or you can just run the weedeater over the top,





This is the lot line between my yard and neighbor. My next task is to extend the edging along the line.

Great ideas, I sure would like to mulch my whole yard, and your right IF I get off my duff and do it, NOW would be the time! Unfortunately it's also the time to pressure clean the roof, and do a lot of exterior painting. I wish I could afford to hire some one, but I have to do it myself. As it stands I guess I'll just do the things that must be done and see if there is time and energy left to start mulching I like the idea of starting small, but knowing my personality I'd start, then keep thinking, hey, I can do just a little more. and end up exhausted.

Jim
You can find the concrete edging I have on Craigslist from time to time for alot less than the box stores. I just buy some here and there and work on it when I can. You don't have to do it all at once. The mulch can be had for free from the tree services. Just be sure to tell them you want clean mulch.
I will have done my whole front yard from probably under $100 so far.

Thank you Jan, great info.

Jim
Here's a sample on Craigslist. It's too far for you but there are probably some in your area from time to time. There is also a Wanted section where you can post an ad.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hi...

I also have found the concrete curbing at sales and on Craigslist.

Another good source for free mulch can be your County division of Forestry. Ours offers excellent mulch, mostly oak chips. Only down side is you have to go pick it up yourself.

I battle the 'keeping going until exhausted' syndrome by not starting until evening. There's only so much you can do about gardening in the dark.