A new gate for a new wildlife garden
My own wildlife garden has been sadly neglected for the past several years as I’ve struggled to recover from an auto accident. Amazingly, my garden has continued to be a wildlife haven: the birds continued to nest and feed, the garden was full of butterflies, the native bees seemed happy, and the bats swoop around every evening collecting insects.
But last fall I was away for several months as I became my mother’s full-time caretaker while she was ill. And my wildlife garden finally succumbed to all of this neglect. The Norway Maple seedlings grew large, the Sweet Autumn Clematis swallowed everything is sight, English Ivy happily climbed all of the trees, Japanese Stilt Grass has made a thick impenetrable carpet, and lots of other invasive thugs have moved in.
Sweet Autumn Clematis, an invasive thug, swallows everything in sight
Very few of my native plants remain in the mess that has swallowed my garden. I have been working diligently trying to pull these invaders out of my garden, but to little effect. There is just too many invasives and not enough hours in the day.
So what to do?
I’m going to start over. A clean slate. A fresh start. And that feels good. Sometimes circumstances in the wildlife garden presents us with the opportunity for a clean slate, but this time I am choosing to take the whole thing apart and to completely start over.
Oh the possibilities!
I have several obstacles to overcome as I plan my new wildlife garden:
- The canopy of dense shade from the mature Norway Maples in my neighbor’s yards
- The press of invasive plants from my neighbor’s yards
- The small size of my own garden area
- I have two amazing dogs who need their own space in my garden area
So here’s my plan.
We were unable to walk through the pathways in my garden because they were so overgrown, so we started pulling — everything must go!
Before the pulling
Some of the native plants are so exuberant, like Wood Poppies, Wood Aster, and Native Sunflowers, that we’ll transplant some of them to my neighbor’s side of the fence, where they’ll be quite happy under the Norway Maples, and will hopefully keep some of the invasive plants at bay.
Ahhhh, a pathway!
The property on one side of my house has been abandoned for several years now, and while it is fascinating to observe secondary succession in action, the invasive plants that have sprung up there are the main source of the frustration of attempting to keep these out of my garden.
Huge thanks to my nephew, Lucas for spreading 10 yards of mulch!
So with the help of my strong young nephew, we have cleared a 20 foot wide buffer zone along the dividing line between these properties. Over the years I have planted native shrubs and trees along this fenceline in an attempt to block the view of this abandoned house and garden.
So our first step was to pull all of the English Ivy and Sweet Autumn Clematis out of these trees. You could practically hear them breathe a huge sigh of relief as these nasty invasive vines were removed, and my native shrubs could breathe again. I’m hopeful that with the weight of these vines removed and the fact that now my shrubs will see some welcome sunlight, that the shrubs will recover.
An Eastern Red Cedar, released from the stranglehold of invasive Sweet Autumn Clematis. I really hope it survives my neglect!
Some of them look a little pathetic right now, all bent over and not much “green” left, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that now they can heal and recover.
Laying out the cardboard
Now that we’ve cut away all of these vines, the next step was to take the weed whacker and cut back all of the ground level plants. Then we laid cardboard over top and my nephew will be spreading mulch over that this afternoon.
This is a great method of weed control because it requires no chemical herbicides, which can poison the very wildlife I am working so hard to create welcoming habitat for in my garden. What you do is soak the ground where you want to remove the weeds, lay out your cardboard and soak that as well, and then cover with mulch. Now you let the power of the sun go to work, which will solarize the plants, and kill the seedbank remaining in the soil. The cardboard will break down and decompose over time, as will the mulch, and you will be left with a new garden bed all ready for you to add your favorite wildlife habitat plants.
My “buffer zone” will be completed this afternoon, and then it is time to tackle the space in my own garden, which I’ll tell you about next week.
Have you ever had to start all over in your wildlife garden? How did you approach this? What obstacles did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Follow along with my journey:
Starting Over: What Can Stay and What Must Go?
Starting a Wildlife Garden from Scratch
How to Plan a New Wildlife Garden
Spring Update on the new Wildlife Garden
Carole Sevilla Brown lives in Philadelphia, PA, and she travels the country speaking about Ecosystem Gardening for Wildlife. Check out her new free online course Ecosystem Gardening Essentials, 15 free lessons delivered to your inbox every week.
© 2012 – 2013, Carole Sevilla Brown. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Carole Sevilla Brown
Hi Carole,
I thought clear plastic had to be used to “solarize.” So, cardboard is considered same, I see.
Thanks for links about car accident etc. I had no idea! Anyway, good luck with the fresh start!
@Spiderwort52
Thanks, Barb
Yes, you can use cardboard, newspaper, basically anything like that that you would normally put in your recycling bin. It’s a win-win because it helps you create new habitat for wildlife in your garden, plus you’re keeping it out of landfills.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Reader Appreciation: Damon Morris, Mount Cuba Center
Looking forward to following your progress Carole!
When I start over (or do big changes), the biggest challenge I usually face is working around the less-than-ideal location of where I previously placed some perennials. I love them but would locate them differently if truly starting from scratch. I know I can move them but I don’t want to disturb them because they are thriving. So, I just add things around them
You’re so right, Mike, when perennials are happy they spread out with great exuberance. LOL I have some very happy native perennials still thriving in the mess that is my garden right now. Since they are obviously happy here, I’m going to relocate them over into my neighbors yard to try to hold back the spreading tide of invasives.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Why Focus on Ecosystem Gardening When There is So Much Wrong in the World?
Another passionate wildlife / ecosystem gardener chiming in about starting over.
Here in CA we have a long dry season from May through October, roughly. Clients who offer their gardens for transformation frequently have land crowded with invasive non-native annuals. Summertime is perfect for clearing out all of that and pressing reset.
Getting down to bare soil is so refreshing! One can do a little landscaping, add rocks and old logs, make rain sumps and embankments, and prepare fully for the rainy season. Just before the rains start, we add plantings of natives (live plants plus seeds, bulbs, etc) and water it all in.
My latest project is being documented on the blog here: http://onegreenstone.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/the-new-ecogarden-project/ — the rear third of the new eco-garden is going to be largely cleared, landscaped, and reset to native goodness.
Carole, thanks so much for your excellent blog and your work. You are one of my favorite role-models!
Thanks Nick! Your latest project looks like a wonderful opportunity to showcase some beautiful native plants. I can’t wait to see your progress
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..A Love Letter to Wildlife
It’s hard work, but it’s so satisfying to see order coming to chaos, isn’t it?
I’ve had to reclaim chunks of weedy no-longer-lawn for beds, and tear out unbelievable quantities of honeysuckle over the years, so I feel your pain! If you run out of cardboard, burlap also works, and breaks down quickly. Good luck! I’m sure we’ll all anticipate the in-progress shots!
UrsulaV recently posted..My Mulch Brings All The Birds To The Yard
Ursula, yes I am totally loving seeing some order come out of chaos! I’ve put this off too long, and it’s so exciting to finally get my hands dirty and create a better wildlife habitat for my favorite critters. Thanks for the burlap tip. I may need to try that. I’ve collected all of my neighbors cardboard and newspaper recycling, and still have much more space to cover.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Creating Change to Make the World a Better Place: NWF Backs Down
Lucas does deserve a round of applause. Having moved 14 yards of top soil in recent weeks to augment our own new native garden beds, I know how much of a workout that is! I do agree with your approach. Sometimes it’s simply more efficient to wipe the slate clean, and begin again. The beauty of native plants is they tend to fill in quickly where they’re adapted. I like the cardboard method for smothering weeds too, it’s so much more friendly than the black plastic approach. At least the cardboard eventually feeds the soil, rather than break down and fall apart. I’m looking forward to seeing the transformation over time!
Curbstone Valley Farm recently posted..Spring Garden Update: The Native Gardens
CVF, you’re right I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Lucas who worked all day moving the mountain of mulch around my garden today! I do have some black plastic laid out in areas we didn’t mulch on my neighbors side. It’s left over pond liner that I spread out to try to annihilate more of the Sweet Autumn Clematis. I figure it will get really hot under there and kill all the nasties, then I’ll move the pond liner around to kill more areas. Since the property is abandoned, I’m planning on filling it in with native trees and shrubs to extend my wildlife haven
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Angry Supporters Withdraw Donations to National Wildlife Federation to Protest Partnership with Scotts Miracle Gro
I’m in the process of taking back my yard after four years of neglect while I was on the road almost constantly. Parts of it are coming together just fine, but parts I’m going to have to rip out entirely and start over as well.
That cardboard idea is sheer genius, thanks so much for that. I knew there had to be a better solution than black plastic!
Jen Waak recently posted..Why Going Fast Slows You Down
Jen, good luck with the cardboard! It’s a great way to keep stuff out of landfills and to recycle it in a way that immediately benefits you. I understand the demands that so much travel takes, but I’m glad you’ve got the opportunity to spend some more relaxing time in your garden. Let us know how your restoration goes
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Reader Appreciation: Damon Morris, Mount Cuba Center
Amazing work so far Carole..yes I have many invasives and real weeds taking over but not as bad as what you are dealing with…I have started over many areas and continue to do so…I may have to use the cardboard in some areas although some weeds/invasives will not die…looking forward to the changes and progress!
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Harmony Through Chaos
Donna, I tend to always be tinkering with things in the garden, searching for the perfect place for each plant, but this time tinkering was out of the question, so we’re going for a full make-over. It’s actually kind of exciting, having a blank slate to work with
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Reader Appreciation: Damon Morris, Mount Cuba Center
Carole I can’t wait to see the transformation in your garden with all yor natives. I know it’s a lot of work but definitely worth it for your neighborhood “critters”. Good luck and by the way, I love your gate!
Thanks Kathy. I was thrilled to find that gate. There are a lot of pieces of wrought iron fence that were part of the original back yard (over 100 years old!) that I’ll be using to divide the dog area from my wildlife area, and this gate will look great with that fence.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Healing The Wounds Part 5, Loss of Ecological Processes
Congrats with your new project, Carole. Having a blank slate sounds refreshing. I cannot believe how overgrown your yard got with the invasives! When you say overgrown, you aren’t kidding. Can’t wait to see what you do with it. Glad you are expanding over to the yard next door
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..California’s White Sage of the Chaparral
Expanding into next door seems like a great choice to me. Since no one is tending it and it’s suffering from too much neglect, I figured I might as well give some more to the birds and butterflies and other critters around here.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Healing the Wounds, Part 4: The Wound of Exotic Species
One step at a time, choose your moments carefully and those invasive plants will dare not pop up again – Well, that’s the hope.
Old cardboard, old carpet, even old bed blankets and old coats often do the trick.
Hey, this might even develop into a further ‘pastime’ scouring the local bins and rubbish tips.
And as long as you have ol’ Percy on your side, you will beat it.
Good luck.
Andrew @potted recently posted..June Garden Tips and Ideas
Andrew, carpet works to kill the nasties, but it doesn’t decompose or enrich the soil. I’ve used it in places meant to be permanent pathways, but never for any place I want to plant.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Plant This, Not That: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants
Avoid the man made fibres – Use wool, cotton and anything else that will rot down
Andrew @potted recently posted..Saving water in your garden – Find out how
you have a nice foundation though. So much of it is salvageable and of value. I’m cheering for the wee cedar to thrive.
Karyl Seppala recently posted..Instant Herp Habitat
Thanks, Karyl. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for those cedars too. Hopefully they will overcome looking so pitiful soon!
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..One Million Gardens
That’s quite a task you’ve got there…and a great start (does your nephew rent out??)
I can’t imagine doing that large an area (although I should get on board….my yard is a mess HA!). Just last week I dug out a 6 x 6 section to put a new pollinator stop in the front yard. I am in the process of putting cardboard with mulch cover around it to keep the darn bahia grass from infiltration.
Can’t wait to start seeing the results of your hard work and I hope that your natives beam with the exposure to “life” again.
Loret recently posted..Condo living for bluebirds?
Loret, I’m sure Lucas would be thrilled to take a trip to Florida! He’s such a great kid: hard worker, trustworthy, diligent, and eager to make his tired old aunt’s life much easier
I certainly wouldn’t be doing such a big job at once without his help!
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Starting a Wildlife Garden From Scratch
Hi Carol, I look forward to following your progress. Change is always a little nerve-wracking but exciting at the same time. I am really glad to hear that you are taking time for yourself. I have done the parental caregiver thing and it is so hard, both physically & emotionally. You know, many of us may be willing to make a road trip just to give you a a hand.
Cori Rose recently posted..Why Did the Turtle Cross the Road?
Cori, come on down! I’d love to meet you, and it would be a lot of fun to have another passionate wildlife gardener’s ideas for this garden.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Healing the Wounds, Part 4: The Wound of Exotic Species
I’ve never *had* to start over, but sometimes I’d like to, takes a long time to overcome mistakes made by this boneheaded novice 20 yrs ago.. I admire your fortitude & persistence in the face of so many obstacles..Gives us all courage to proceed..even when invasives, neighbors & the vissicitudes of life over come us.. Bravo!
Cindy, we all made boneheaded mistakes 20 years ago because the “expert” information that was available suggested planting Autumn Olive, Oriental Bittersweet, and many more invasive thugs because the birds would eat the berries. Little did we know that they would spread those seeds far and wide, swallowing up entire natural ecosystems in their path.
If you don’t *have* to start over, I’d recommend only doing small, manageable sections at one time.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Starting Over: Deciding What Can Stay and What Must Go
Carol,
You are truly indomitable and brave, to face that overgrown mass of plants with such fortitude. I wish you the best with your new garden–it is such important work: good for the land and its creatures, and good for body and soul.
Thanks, Ruth! I work very hard to make my garden good for the land and its creatures, and THAT is great for my soul.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Starting From Scratch In the Wildlife Garden
Ok, NOW I see the cardboard. I suggested you use it in another post, but I see that it did not work!
David Bourne recently posted..How to Shoot Better Video: The Top 5 Production Tips – How Storytelling Works
David, spreading cardboard after you’ve cut everything back and then covering that with mulch is called “sheet mulching” and is a wonderful way to hold back the onslaught of invasives.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Why Focus on Ecosystem Gardening When There is So Much Wrong in the World?
Wow huge project, but you’ve made some great progress already. Never hurts to have strong young men around to help. I have a couple nephews who I “hire” for such occasions as well.
Marlene Hielema recently posted..Our fascination with grungy photo filters
Marlene, so true! Strong young men are essential to taking on a huge project. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without his help.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..A Love Letter to Wildlife
So glad you are sharing this journey with your readers! I’m really excited for you.
Sue Scott recently posted..Beautilful Wildlife Garden
Thanks, Sue!
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Starting Over: Deciding What Can Stay and What Must Go
I am in the process of doing the very same thing: sheet mulching to kill the nasty invasive weeds and then installing a new native garden. My family moved into a house last month that had been mostly neglected for over a year. A whole lot can happen in a year here in Florida.
Good luck to you!
Andi Houston recently posted..I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
Andi, I’d love to see photos of your new native garden! It would be very instructive to see pictures of all the steps you take to create your new haven.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Why Focus on Ecosystem Gardening When There is So Much Wrong in the World?
I’ve been mulling over what to do about a large area of vinca that has swallowed up a great deal of land in just a year or two of neglect. I’ve read that to truly “solarize,” you need clear plastic and you dig trenches around the edges so you can bury the borders; otherwise, the heat will escape.
I don’t think this method is practical for me becus it’s in an area where there are good plants like blueberry bushes and lots of perennials, that i would have to work around. I’m afraid that digging and hand pulling is what I’m left with as I reserve use of Round Up to poison ivy only
fern recently posted..Time to Catch Up!
Carole – kudos to you for making the effort – you know it will be SO worth it! I love your guerrilla gardening technique of transplanting some of the native thugs – er, spreaders – into the abandoned lot next door. Something tells me that whoever eventually moves in next door will appreciate the native plant garden you established for them, once you’ve explained what you’ve done there…
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