Winning the Battle with Bishops Weed!

Getting Rid of the dreaded Bishops Weed/Gout Weed/Snow on the Mountain!

Bishops weed took over everything! that's it in the upper corner, along the garage and down the fence.
What you can't see is there is a pond that once was majestic in my little Chicago dwelling, the bishops weed appeared to be winning, but the battle had just begun!

Bishops weed was also along the side fence and into my neighbors yard. I would try to grow vegetables in that spot but usually without any success because of the choking of the bishops weed. So I began to gather my rocks and boulders and stored them in my garage.



My once organic yard was introduced to Roundup and 2,4 D. Sadly, I had to...for a few months my husband and I would spot treat any returning bishops weed/gout weed/snow on the mountain. 

When I was certain the dreaded weed was gone, 

My new design began, we installed a new sidewalk and created a new path to the garage. 

Since our yard was sloped towards the house, I raked and raked and raked and changed the grade

We hired two brothers from church to help fund their missions trip. Together we tilled, raked, laid out fabric, set out the boulder edge and filled in with small gravel and mulch.

The fun was now beginning! found some "yard art" at the local flea market and spray painted it with a rust resistant spray!

Planted my flowers by separating the mulch and cutting holes in the fabric. 

( be sure to keep your plants original pot nearby to place excess soil from the hole in)

The sod was being delivered in the early afternoon, so I decided to tackle the largest section of my yard. Mostly because, I didn't want to wait for the sod to secure to go ahead and plant. 

I laid out the fabric, secured it with brick, and planted my plants, (I intend on putting mulch down once I can walk on the sod, the bricks help the fabric to stay in place)

My wonderful Husband placed in the aluminum edging just in time before the sod delivery!

               

He hauled, I unrolled, then He rolled!

I placed in the remaining pieces of "yard art" and covered the heaviest bishops weed area with 18" patio bricks 4-high and placed my rain barrel on top of it, I don't intend on planting much there so as to not disturb the soil for a few years.   

Viola!

                          After many decades of doing this for other people, I finally created a landscape for myself and decided to start my consulting business, "Urban Girl Landscapes!" 

visit my webpage at: www.urbangirllandscapes.com