Making new beds

[TPS]

Hey guys, whats the proper process for making new mulch beds in the lawn? I dont have a bed shaper so they will be done by hand. I just need to make 2 new tree rings. No big deal. But what do you about the grass? Would turning it into the soil do the trick or should I dig it up? Thanks in advance for the help.

[Grass Happens]

use a spade shovel to define your edge, then scoop the grass on the inside and throw it into your mulch pile.

[TPS]

So the grass will not grow through the mulch? The new mulch will be about 3" thick, but I dont want to have to weed the beds everytime I go to cut the lawn.

[jaybird24]

We use a sod cutter to remove the bulk of it, then define the edges with a bedscaper, clean up any leftover sod scraps, and you've got a new bed with no weeds or grass. We then put in any plantings and water them in. Snapshot and mulch and you're done.

[TPS]

Thanks. No sod cutter, so I'll probably just dig out the grass. Then put the mulch down. Thanks

[DIXIECONTRACTING]

Definitely remove the Grass and weeds or they will grow back through the mulch. That is the professional way then use a flat shovel to edge.

[Ramairfreak98ss]

use a spade shovel to define your edge, then scoop the grass on the inside and throw it into your mulch pile.

He means "grass mulch" debris pile, dont leave it there. Its the easiest way. Sometimes with the roots you cant get it all, so we chop at it until we can get rid of most of the grass there.

[Smallaxe]

Depending on the size of the root mass, of the tree, you may not want to dig in. Roundup everything. place your edging on top of the ground and fill with 3-4 inches of mulch.
Somethin' to think about.

[Grass Happens]

opps i ment "throw the gras scraps into your compost pile"

[TPS]

Thanks for all the help guys. Ill edge first then turn the grass and pull the clumps. Then add 3"-4" of mulch.

[GrassmasterB]

Depending on the size of the root mass, of the tree, you may not want to dig in. Roundup everything. place your edging on top of the ground and fill with 3-4 inches of mulch.
Somethin' to think about.

is it possible for the roundup to cause damage to the tree? i'm needing to put a bed in around a 16-17 year old maple tree w/alot of surface roots and was thinking about doing it just like you said. but i was worried that the amount of roundup needed for the size bed i want, might hurt the tree.

[Trenchblade]

Hey guys, whats the proper process for making new mulch beds in the lawn? I dont have a bed shaper so they will be done by hand. I just need to make 2 new tree rings. No big deal. But what do you about the grass? Would turning it into the soil do the trick or should I dig it up? Thanks in advance for the help.

you should check out the trenchblade and see if it is something that you could use instead of using a bed shaper machine.

[TPS]

I actually bought a trenchblade. Just have not had time to try it. Its sitting on my desk in front of me as I type. However, I dont like trying things for the first time at a customers house. Hopefully Ill get sometime Sunday to try it at home.

[AGLA]

If you go with Roundup, cut the edge before you spray. Roundup translocates through the plant and grass spreads by rhizomes. That means that if you spray over here it can kill over there.

We are talking about tree rings here. You can cut the edge, remove the grass and have it all cleaned up in not much less tome than it takes to mix up Roundup and spray. Then you'd have to wait at least several days for it to die. Then you have to make another trip to the job. After that, you'll still want to remove the grass to make room for the mulch. Why not just get it done?

I honestly believe that there is a whole generation out there that has been marketed to by equipment and chemical suppliers so much that if there is no cord to pull or to plug in, it can't be done.

[TPS]

I don't use chemicals. I get everything done in one trip. Gas is to high to be doing any extra running. Does Round Up require any kind of applicators license? I was under the impression you could be find for using chemicals without the proper license. Thanks again for all the help guys.

[Smallaxe]

is it possible for the roundup to cause damage to the tree? i'm needing to put a bed in around a 16-17 year old maple tree w/alot of surface roots and was thinking about doing it just like you said. but i was worried that the amount of roundup needed for the size bed i want, might hurt the tree.

From what I understand is that glysophate reactes with chlorophyll on leafy surfaces. From that point it goes systemic.

Systemic goes down to kill the roots. Spray the surface of the weed and the tree will be unaffected. But, If the glysophate gets into the cambian, you destroy everything that section of cambien covers.

Think about how the stuff works. If it is picked up through the roots then you will want to observe the label. Spraying glysophate onto bare ground should do nothing according to what i understand.

Spray the green surfaces. Hit the chlorophyl and your tree should be fine. [As long as you do not overdo what is required to kill your weeds]