by Kim B.
Member since:
September 25, 2006

Any Advice for my Impossible Flower Bed Task ?

May 10, 2009 06:56 PM EDT
views: 97 | comments: 36

My boss asked me if I would like to make a flower bed in front of the barn.   She said she would pay me and Lord knows I can always use the money.  But, I went out today and started to work on it and it's like digging in Concrete.

The clematis that are growing are growing in gravel and weeds.  I'm surprised they grow at all.

  This is what I'll be digging up.











I did get the ground dug up right around the plants, but the rest is impossible to dig.  Any advice for just this one woman working with only a shovel and wheelbarrow? :)  I do have someone that is bringing some black dirt to replace what I take out, but getting this out, I'll need a Jackhammer.
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Comments: 36

Renee S. May 10, 2009, 7:00pm EDT
Good luck with that job. I don't know what I would plant there.
Michelle W. May 10, 2009, 7:01pm EDT
I would get the ground wet before trying to dig up the hard packed earth. It will make life much easier to begin with. Then I would see about getting some good soil from a local garden center (the more the better if the boss is paying) and mix in with the hardened dirt you have there. Make sure to add some peat and vermiculite to help the garden grow.
R B May 10, 2009, 7:03pm EDT
If you are doing this at work,aren't you already getting paid?? Duh.
J F. May 10, 2009, 7:07pm EDT
Don't dig it up. If I am seeing this correctly, just get the weeds out. Leave the gravel for drainage. Add peat and top soil. Then plant. If you build the soil and peat too high then you will have to put timbers around to hold it in or it will wash away. Try to just put in enough that won't wash away. Sorta hard to visualize from your pics.
Kim B. May 10, 2009, 7:07pm EDT
R B ~ What I do is take care of the horses. I get my apartment and utilities for this job. Any extra work I get paid by the hour. So, for this job, it's extra.
Kim B. May 10, 2009, 7:12pm EDT
The ground is saturated from weeks of rain already. it is solid gravel and dirt. what i dug up already is wet. But it is still hard to dig.
J F. May 10, 2009, 7:12pm EDT
If it is a sunny area put petunias, marigolds, salvia, ageratum and some geraniums. Depends on how large of an area you are going to do. Dahlias are also nice. Depends on what she wants to spend.
Kim B. May 10, 2009, 7:13pm EDT
J.~ Just getting the weeds out is almost impossible. That's why she asked me to dig it up. She doesn't want to use Roundup either. Impossible task indeed.
J F. May 10, 2009, 7:17pm EDT
Don't dig. Trust me. Build up and save yourself grief and a terrible backache. Just get out the weeds. You could spray with roundup or just pull them. Then add what I suggested. Easier and will look great.
J F. May 10, 2009, 7:18pm EDT
Then put weedblock down or blackplastic before adding soil and peat.
R B May 10, 2009, 7:18pm EDT
Take the money and run. Wish my boss would pay extra for each of the 1,000 things done outside a normal day.
Kim B. May 10, 2009, 7:27pm EDT
Taking care of the horses and the barn is more than enough for me to do. This is definately overtime.
And I won't see any money until it's all done.
Kim B. May 10, 2009, 7:28pm EDT
J.~ I will try and get the weeds out. I have been, but I'll keep on. I hate pulling weeds, and these weeds are cemented in.

Thanks J. & Michelle for your help.
K D. May 10, 2009, 7:30pm EDT
I'm not too much of a gardener, I'm in the works of starting my first herb garden. I'm interested in what you end up doing so keep me posted! All the best!
J F. May 10, 2009, 7:33pm EDT
Then cut the weeds as low as you can and put the plastic or weed block on top of them. Then put the top soil and peat on top. Your boss has mud up her butt. LOL!!
J F. May 10, 2009, 7:36pm EDT
I have been doing this for years. Was a landscaper for about 8 years, too before my health got worse.
Would a tiller help?
J F. May 10, 2009, 7:38pm EDT
If there is gravel or concrete, the tiller would be damaged.
J F. May 10, 2009, 7:41pm EDT
If the gravel can be scraped away a rear tine tiller would work somewhat. I would just build it up. Easier and better to maintain.
Dorothy H. May 10, 2009, 7:59pm EDT
How about a raised flower bed? What size are you going for? An 8x4 flower bed is easy to make with 3 boards (1 cut in half to make the 4 ft ends. Fill with potting soil, plant the plants. Putting in some earth worms is a good idea for gardens.
Cynthia J. May 10, 2009, 8:04pm EDT
I agree with J F...build up and don't try to dig it. If she insists on digging, then you'll need to get your hands on some tools especially if it is cement, such as a jackhammer. Good luck.
Kat W. May 10, 2009, 8:06pm EDT
I'd make a raised bed. Remove what weeds you can, build a frame the size of the bed you want, nothing fancy but deep enough for at least 4 inches, 6 would be best, line the inside with a layer or two of weed cloth and fill with top soil/garden soil. It will not be enough to grow sunflowers but you should be able to grow coneflowers, rudbeckia and other perennials and annuals.
Kim B. May 10, 2009, 8:07pm EDT
Wow, thanks everyone! You all have made this seem not so impossible now. She doesn't like the Roundup because it is not organic. She had me buy Preen. expensive and so far I don't see what good it does. i have used that in the other beds and the weeds still come up. I will cut it down and try what you said J. . Raised flower bed sounds good Dorothy.
Kim B. May 10, 2009, 8:09pm EDT
Thanks Kat! Raised sounds like the plan. I have not heard of Rubeckia, interesting name.
timi A. May 10, 2009, 8:22pm EDT
your boss knew why she wanted you to dig it. lol
Larry H. May 10, 2009, 8:54pm EDT
grow weeds in it, tell everyone they are wild flowers
☃ Aunt Shanny May 10, 2009, 9:01pm EDT
You will have to turn the soil with the end of the shovel to loosen it. And plant stuff that can grow in any type of soil, i.e. clay.
Kim B. May 10, 2009, 10:28pm EDT
Sounds like a plan Larry, lol! Thanks
I like J F's plan..........
as I was just thinking of making raised beds there, if you're determined to plant live plants in that area.....

you can always use seeds.......perinniels and annuals......
John S. (arizona) May 11, 2009, 10:34am EDT
I was going to say build a raised bed as well, or see if you can get the boss to rent the equipment to dig up the tough ground somehow. Good luck.
Melanie B. May 11, 2009, 12:04pm EDT
Sounds like you've gotten some great answers. I agree, build up~ Put some plastic down. Add more rails around to hold the soil in, that you will be getting. Good luck`
debra g. May 11, 2009, 10:01pm EDT
Make a raised bed!!!!!Kill the weeds and put your your rail road tiles to make the bed.It is easy to do.Have a great gather day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for posting to sparealine.gather.com
Bryan B. May 12, 2009, 12:17am EDT
Maybe try a roto-tiller if you can get your hands on one.
Tory H. May 12, 2009, 11:11am EDT
I have no new advice to offer, but good luck!
Beverly T. May 13, 2009, 12:38am EDT
I would put a raised bed on top of it. The gravel at least will allow some drainage. We have a nasty strip on the side of our house with soil that isn't good for much of anything. We're going to put containers on top of the ground and go from there.

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Karen G. May 15, 2009, 10:47am EDT
I would try some groundcover.

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