Wind is a huge factor, and I never realized just how much until now. My last house had a fenced yard on a slight slope, with large trees on the lots to the north and west of me. Just about everything I dropped on the ground took root and grew. The only "weeds" were cultivated plants that dropped too many seeds.
This house is 3 miles straight south of that one, and what a difference. I now own 2 weed identification books and still see thorny weeds that are not listed in either book. i own and use 2 mulching machines, 2 compost tumblers, a Stihl yard-boss and a rototiller plus a large Kubota tractor with all kinds of implements. And a backhoe. whew. Whenever I make a new bed, I till it, add all kinds of compost, plant it and spread bark mulch. I have discovered it takes about 3 years fighting weeds in any given bed before I can enjoy it. If I mulch a bed, the soil is improved and the weeds suppressed, and maybe the groundcovers have a fighting chance.
This week, I've been frustrated with my semi-formal raised rose bed. Initially I formed it with ugly old railroad ties, so it is 16' on each outer edge, with a keyhole shape, meaning open in the center and an opening on the west side. I have Homestead Purple verbena and dianthus as groundcover. The outer edges have creeping phlox. Right now the roses are between flushes, the verbena is burning up, and the dianthus has bloomed and gone to seed. The whole bed needs work! I bought large stone blocks to replace the railroad ties on the inside of the keyhole...as soon as I get a cool day and enough energy to pull out the ties. There's got to be a better way to underplant the roses. I've tried wave petunias, portulaca, green sedum, nepeta, miniature daylilies, evening primrose. Nothing looks good for a long enough time. The rosarians in our rose society 100% recommend mulch around roses. No plants whatsoever, so there is no competition for water. If I go that route, it means that for a good part of the year, that bed is downright unattractive.
Oh, Toni......I've seriously derailed this thread...i'll start a new thread. Sorry! Just can't get my mind off this since I'm watering like crazy, wishing for rain, and wondering how I'm going to get through the really hot part of the summer.
