I'm not London. I have a much bigger garden for starters. In London, the property footprint (factor zero. is it counted?) will be much more significant. I have an immediate advantage. A 0.4 target for me would not be very challenging.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I like to see bare soil when I've just weeded a bed so I can plant new goodies - veggies and ornamentals - and then I like to keep it bare with hoeing or hand weeding whilst the perennials get on and grow to cover it. Better tho to mulch it if possible to retain moisture and suppress weeds and we try and use cardboard on veggie beds.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
The subject of bare soil reminded me of the curse that is landscaping fabric. I have inherited the stuff in my garden and unfortunately did not get around to removing it all at the beginning before I began introducing plants and so on. Now, many roots are entangled in it and various stones and containers are compacting it further. I understand worms can suffocate under it, however I did find some worms under the last part of the landscaping fabric that I managed to remove. From what I have read, this fabric is very damaging to the structure of the soil ( and all who sail in her!). I would rather have a natural lawn than this stuff anyday and am doing my best to remove it when I can (removing it requires the kind of strength and suppleness that I do not always have in much supply these days!)
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We have it here @clematisdorset, laid on long strips and then planted with a mixed hedge - utter PITA to deal with as weeds proliferate anyway but some of the hedging plants struggle - and it's also on a short slope between 2 levels that previous owners laid and then planted up with a mix of shrubs and dwarf conifers.
The dwarf conifers and a scruffy lilac have, thankfully, died and been towed out but that leaves us with holes and it's proving really hard to re-plant and cover up because of the slope, poor soil and recent droughts and heat waves.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Yes isn't it just that @Obelixx ! You are absolutely right and I question if its time has come. It sounds as though you are leaving yours there for the time being? Is that partly because of the other conditions you have?
I am trying to remove all of mine ( a small space) but mine is also on uneven, sloping ground. My eventual plan is to remove it and create a stumpery in the woodland part and some kind of raised garden/rock garden in the sunnier area. The soil is very compacted and thick roots from shrubs and trees are all over the surface, which really isn't 'diggable' at all (sandy-silt and very dry).
I really hope the trend for landscape fabric has 'had it's day' !
Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus
We have about 4 acres of terrain @clematisdorset ranging from deep, fertile loam to heavy, dry volcanic schist which is where the landscape fabric is. Not a priority to move it as there's so much else to get under control and no easy way to recycle the stuff if we do pull it up.
It's not even effective as a weed suppressor and is full of brambles and couch grass at the feet of the mixed hedge growing in the longer strip.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Oh that does sound a 'bit of a challenge' @Obelixx. It is a shame these sorts of materials were ever dreamed up when the end result is so difficult. I understand it has been manufactured mainly as a 'weed suppressant' when in fact that is one job it distinctly appears not to do, while also undermining the soil.
Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus
Posts
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
The dwarf conifers and a scruffy lilac have, thankfully, died and been towed out but that leaves us with holes and it's proving really hard to re-plant and cover up because of the slope, poor soil and recent droughts and heat waves.
I am trying to remove all of mine ( a small space) but mine is also on uneven, sloping ground. My eventual plan is to remove it and create a stumpery in the woodland part and some kind of raised garden/rock garden in the sunnier area. The soil is very compacted and thick roots from shrubs and trees are all over the surface, which really isn't 'diggable' at all (sandy-silt and very dry).
I really hope the trend for landscape fabric has 'had it's day' !
It's not even effective as a weed suppressor and is full of brambles and couch grass at the feet of the mixed hedge growing in the longer strip.