I am having some trouble applying the
permaculture concept of edge in a practical sense. Hopefully folks can offer some suggestions and solutions for my various scenarios.
(1) Edge between
fence and grass on suburban lot.
Goal: Grass suppression. I would like not to have to run my edger any more -- ever. I would like a permanent solution to get me there. Solution could be short-term or long-term. And I feel this is an investment of sorts so I am willing to spend a little bit. I don't think I have quite
enough space for
chickens.
There is a
thread on
mowable meadows. And another
one.
I could do a rock mulch, but in areas where I have tested this out the grass comes through. Mostly because I just put the rocks on top of what was there.
I could do low growing plants from the
fence out a few inches away from the fence line. I saw a post where Paul mentioned
Stepables. This is a possibility. These would grow low enough that I wouldn't ever have to edge the edge.
Would it be advisable to dig the grass out that is there? (lots of work, but I would do it if it were one time work). Or would the low growing plants eventually out produce the grass? What would the solution look like if I didn't dig the grass up?
Is there a mix of low growers that might be cool to try from seed? (This would be a much less expensive solution, I think).
(1.2) Does the type of fence matter? This is what I have along two sides of the back property.
(1.3) My aunt and uncle have about 2 acres. It seems like stepables might be expensive. Is there a larger scale solution to suppress grass from the fence line?
(1.4) Can I treat the foundation edge the same as the fence edge?
(2) Edge between garden and
lawn.
Goal: More grass suppression.
I mulched the heck out of the walkway on the inside of the white fence. How to I take care of the really long grass that seems to be growing between the
straw path edge and the fence? I don't want to have to run the edger there either.
(3) Inside and Outside edge of rocks in the front garden.
Goal for inside edge (mulched area):
perennial low-growing plant solution.
Goal for outside edge (grass area): grass suppression.
On a side note -- I pull and pull and pull thistles... do I just have too much exposed planting space? The thistle comes up through the day lilies and all of the other plantings else except maybe the comfrey.
(4) Edge between grass and side walk.
Goal: Grass suppression.
Maybe I
should rename this thread Grass Suppression situations.
Any suggestions or solutions are welcome.
Thanks all.
A.J.