R. Todd Rothrauff

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  1. The annual Yard Adventure . . .
  2. 2018: Will the new design elements work . . .

May 20: A small azalea project . . .

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  • I chose this day to address something minor that has been bugging me for a while.  I've tried to follow the same basic procedure each time I plant something in my yard.  In addition to the hole in the ground for the plant, itself, I also clear a decent-sized area in the immediate vicinity.  Not only does this look better, it also removes any weeds and prepares a place to spread mulch.  Everything in the yard follows this pattern except for the first azalea cluster next to the street.  Planted in among the cluster is a bunch of ornamental grass.  This grass grows in quite thick around and all through the individual azaleas and just doesn't look good.  It's been this way since I moved in, and has consistently been one of those nagging issues I keep saying I'll address someday.   After putting it off for 8 years, I decided while cutting the grass to do something about it today.

    I chose this day to address something minor that has been bugging me for a while. I've tried to follow the same basic procedure each time I plant something in my yard. In addition to the hole in the ground for the plant, itself, I also clear a decent-sized area in the immediate vicinity. Not only does this look better, it also removes any weeds and prepares a place to spread mulch. Everything in the yard follows this pattern except for the first azalea cluster next to the street. Planted in among the cluster is a bunch of ornamental grass. This grass grows in quite thick around and all through the individual azaleas and just doesn't look good. It's been this way since I moved in, and has consistently been one of those nagging issues I keep saying I'll address someday. After putting it off for 8 years, I decided while cutting the grass to do something about it today.

  • I grabbed some gloves, some clippers, and my small garden trowel and started digging and pulling.

    I grabbed some gloves, some clippers, and my small garden trowel and started digging and pulling.

  • And I kept digging and pulling !

    And I kept digging and pulling !

  • Years of neglect meant a lot of grass had managed to grow throughout the entire cluster, quite a bit more than I had anticipated.

    Years of neglect meant a lot of grass had managed to grow throughout the entire cluster, quite a bit more than I had anticipated.

  • But I kept digging and pulling.

    But I kept digging and pulling.

  • I also pulled a few vines that were mixed in with the ornamental grass.

    I also pulled a few vines that were mixed in with the ornamental grass.

  • I still have an abundance of poison ivy/oak in my yard, and will probably never be able to get rid of it entirely.

    I still have an abundance of poison ivy/oak in my yard, and will probably never be able to get rid of it entirely.

  • I pulled as much of the grass as I could.

    I pulled as much of the grass as I could.

  • Eventually, this azalea cluster started to look like the other plants in the yard.

    Eventually, this azalea cluster started to look like the other plants in the yard.

  • Untitled photo

  • Untitled photo

  • The final step in the process was to spread some mulch.

    The final step in the process was to spread some mulch.

  • I broke out the lawn mower and bag and headed to the backyard.  Several passes later, I had enough "homemade" mulch to cover the base.

    I broke out the lawn mower and bag and headed to the backyard. Several passes later, I had enough "homemade" mulch to cover the base.

  • This looks pretty good right now.  But I have a feeling that because I'm dealing with a lot of ornamental grass, I'll probably have to do this a few more times before I get it all pulled out.

    This looks pretty good right now. But I have a feeling that because I'm dealing with a lot of ornamental grass, I'll probably have to do this a few more times before I get it all pulled out.

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