[66vetter]

I need to add Pine straw, the mulch type that The Villages uses on their new homes. I want to add to existing to get through the summer before Fall landscaping.
Anyone have this done? By whom.

Thanks

[raynan]

We buy 9 bales at the nursery on 466A on left past the Colony shopping center. That will take care of the original landscape area around a Gardenia. Last time it was $3.99 ea.

[graciegirl]

I have 20 bales ordered from the folks who put our landscaping in...the builders landscaper. I think it is about $6.50 a bale. At the same time I put it down, I will re Preen the foundation planting area so the weeds won't sprout.

I am one of a minority that likes natural material that biodegrades and feeds the bushes and flowers planted there. The developer uses it all around the town in his gorgeous planted areas.

There are all kinds of choices. I love to be hands on in my garden as long as I can.

[VillageSitter]

Does this mean you don't want to do it yourself? We have and it's actually very easy. We have purchased pine straw from TerraScapes on 301 and also a nursery on 466A just past the Shell Station where they are building a new BBQ restaurant out front. That nursery is however, very dusty and makes a mess of your car, because of the construction. I believe Home Depot also sells pine straw but was not in when we were looking. Take a few LARGE trash bags with you to put it in so not to make a mess in your car. A bunch usually cost about $4.50 each. Spreads easily by shaking after cutting the string off. Good luck!

[CarGuys]

Vetter!

I know why you really need it. It's for the oil drips under the Vette!

Sorry Just kidding. We'll stop in and see you soon!

Herv

[66vetter]

Thank you I will check it out.

[66vetter]

Carguy,

Water pump just went out. Ahh, old cars!

[66vetter]

Based on the comments here I think I will get the straw and do it myself. Also need to get preen as Gracie suggested.
Thank you everyone.

[Neal2tire]

Every six months for two years we go to Home Depot.
We bring bags to transport it (as mentioned in a previous post)
Four bails at time until we have 12 then spread it ourselves.
Many neighbors have gone from bark to gravel to stone and now
moving back to pine straw.
It naturally breaks down after six months so no need to remove old
needles. Just pile it on. Wear gloves then go out to dinner afterward.
NG

[e-flyer]

It took 6 bales just to do our front yard, so I'm guessing 15-20 bales to do the front/ 1-side/rear of a designer home. if you do the math, depending on price/bale, it's going to run $200-280 minimum per year if it needs replacing every six months.

How does ground up wood mulch (black gold or other various dyed colors) hold up here in Florida? Would using it, invite unwanted issues (termites)? I'm sure pine bark would last a few years, but I'm not crazy about the look of it. Rocks are nice looking, but expensive, and they do not add nutrients to your plants.

[asianthree]

we are still holding with pine straw until there full time...its just easy

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by e-flyer

It took 6 bales just to do our front yard, so I'm guessing 15-20 bales to do the front/ 1-side/rear of a designer home. if you do the math, depending on price/bale, it's going to run $200-280 minimum per year if it needs replacing every six months.

How does ground up wood mulch (black gold or other various dyed colors) hold up here in Florida? Would using it, invite unwanted issues (termites)? I'm sure pine bark would last a few years, but I'm not crazy about the look of it. Rocks are nice looking, but expensive, and they do not add nutrients to your plants.

The Zoysia grass stays up all night and invades our planting beds. My back is killing me. I like the natural look of pine straw, but am not liking the weeding and weeding and weeding. Zoysia ignores the Preen because it spreads through long burrowing thingys. Friends tell me that weeds grow in rock, because dirt and sediment wash in or fall in on the rock and there is enough gradually to root a weed.

I don't want that black stuff under the pine straw. Talk to me about edging. What kind? Can't the danged Zoysia burrow under it?

Still love to work in yard but losing heart.

Gracie

[asianthree]

we have adam neusbaum bring our pine straw he puts down what we need i will look for his number and pm you...gives us what we need not what he needs to sell

[optv13sp]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The Zoysia grass stays up all night and invades our planting beds. My back is killing me. I like the natural look of pine straw, but am not liking the weeding and weeding and weeding. Zoysia ignores the Preen because it spreads through long burrowing thingys. Friends tell me that weeds grow in rock, because dirt and sediment wash in or fall in on the rock and there is enough gradually to root a weed.

I don't want that black stuff under the pine straw. Talk to me about edging. What kind? Can't the danged Zoysia burrow under it?

Still love to work in yard but losing heart.

Gracie

We're also interested in how to keep Zoysia out of planting beds. Any success stories out there?

[cherylncliff]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The Zoysia grass stays up all night and invades our planting beds. My back is killing me. I like the natural look of pine straw, but am not liking the weeding and weeding and weeding. Zoysia ignores the Preen because it spreads through long burrowing thingys. Friends tell me that weeds grow in rock, because dirt and sediment wash in or fall in on the rock and there is enough gradually to root a weed.

I don't want that black stuff under the pine straw. Talk to me about edging. What kind? Can't the danged Zoysia burrow under it?

Still love to work in yard but losing heart.

Gracie

We put in black plastic edging. That seems to help. We get some growth under the edging but much less of a problem than with no edging. I still do some hand pulling but if there are no "delicate" plants nearby, I carefully spray the zoysia with roundup.