Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Projects

The Bottomless [Rock] Pit

August 1, 2012
Do you see that biggish tree in our front yard? It is surrounded by a bed of 3 tiger lilies and it is my job to keep that area weed-free.
 
 
Normally, I don't mind weeding at all.  Greta runs around the yard and anytime I find a little potato bug, she wants to hold it.  But this bed, is impossible to keep clear. The previous owners had put down a layer of the black weed-blocking fabric and then covered the whole thing with rocks--which seems like it would prevent the weeds, but I'm telling you--it has not.  Obviously.
 

Also, we really hate the rocks. Not just for looks (we really prefer a dark mulch), but when the rocks escape this bed--like they do--and end up in the grass and then in the lawn mower, that. is. scary! So that evening, while I was waiting on Chris to finish trimming so I could mow (we love that system), I decided I would remove the rocks and get to the bottom of this weed problem.

I honestly (seriously) thought it would take me an hour tops to remove all the rocks.  Chris laughed and said, "That's a two-hour job, babe."  And we were both wrong.  The next morning, I still had barely made a dent in the project.

For reference sake, you can see how much of the bed I still had left, below.  Greta and I continued to hit the rocks with all of our spare time and this morning, we (she helped as much as a two-year old could) finally were at a point where we could peel back the black lining and get rid of that, too.

And therein lied the problem.  Multiple layers of black weed-blocking liner with nests of tangled roots.  No wonder weeding this bed felt like a never-ending task, the roots had found there way through multiple layers and the rocks and got all intertwined in the meantime.

 
As I much as I wish I had an after picture to show you of our weedless, mulched tree bed--I still have at least 2 more layers of black fabric and roots to sort through.  Le sigh.
 

My heart skipped a few beats when I first peeled back the liner, and now I only feel frustrated.  Is it weird to feel frustrated at roots?  Although I suppose the only appropriate thing to be under, what felt like, a bottomless rock pit, would be a bottomless root pit.  Needless to say, I won't be laying any fresh weed-blocking fabric.

filed under: 
— Hide Comments
+ ShowComments
What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. I hate hate hate weed blocking fabric for just the problem you described. We gave up on using weed blocking fabric a while ago and now opt for using newspaper in small gardens like yours. We've been using this method for a few years now and it works great. Surprisingly it takes a few years to decompose and really helps to block out the weeds. After a few years when you're ready to apply new mulch anyway just lay down new newspaper. Bonus is it's free!

    You can see how we did it here if you're interested.

    http://www.ourlakelife.com/2011/09/30/a-little-mulch-goes-a-long-way/

  2. When we bought our house, it had weed blocking fabric in some of the beds already. While it's not my favorite, we definitely don't have problems with it like yours! It actually looks like they might've placed the fabric OVER existing weeds, thinking the fabric + rocks would kill the underlying weeds. Yuck! I am sure you will have an easier time with it now. Love the daylilies!

  3. ugh. That would bug.

    Just think what it is going to look like!!! So gorgeous!!! Rocks only work in places like Arizona. Where even weeds die because it is so bloody hot.

  4. I'd cry out in agony after pulling back the fabric. I'm dramatic like that. I just hate weeds! I spent seven hours outside last Monday pulling weeds and HAND TRIMMING our bushes. I love yardwork, but it's a huge pain sometimes...

  5. Wow, what a pain! I am super impressed that you got this far though, congrats. Anything with roots is very hard to work on, but once you get it all back in order it will be b-e-a-utiful! Keep up the good work, I love your blog.

  6. Why not get rid of the bed around the tree altogether and plant grass? I have 5 huge oaks in the front of my house and each had small beds around them when I moved in. With 3 kids I couldn't spare the time to weed them and my regular beds so I laid down seed and problem solved. They look great too.

  7. I also have heard about newspaper working better than the weed blocker fabric on another blog. Good luck with the project. We have uncovered alot of issues at our house from the former owners and I know how frustrating it can be when someone does something halfway.

What We're

Loving

Right Now

What We're

Loving

Right Now

Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop
Shop All

Love Stories

Love Where You Live

In an industry that often feels designed to make you discontent, we want this to be place you come for inspiration, ideas, and encouragement to make the space you're already in feel like home.
Read All Posts
let's break this thing up

BROWSE BY CATEGORY

01

Portfolio

Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here.
read more
02

Projects

We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen.
read more
03

Design

Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.
read more
hello world!

looking for inspiration?

Sales

The Best Early Black Friday Deals in 2024 (And More to Come!)

So many of our favorite stores have already launched early Black Friday sales, and we know there’s more to come! We collected all of the best deals of the holiday season—from tech to home decor—in one place for easy reference. Whether you want the lowest price on one of the best gifts of the year […]
Design

The Exciting Plans for Our Primary Bathroom Design

Chris and I have always said that if we don't feel 100% all-in excited about a project—both of us—then we probably haven't found the solution yet. I think that's been the tale with our primary bathroom renovation as a whole. We feel excited about doing the project, but it's been YEARS in the design phase […]
Chris Cooks

Mom's Light & Fluffy Homemade Dinner Rolls

I do a lot of cooking for food restrictions, but this recipe is none of those things. These dinner rolls are my mom's recipe, and they're one of her signature dishes. She has made them for almost every gathering since I was a kid. The smell of these...it's the smell of every family event in […]
Beautifully wrapped traditional presents stacked in a doorway
Gift Guides!

Holiday Gift Guides for Everyone in Your Life {2024}

Remember the thrill of unwrapping a gift that felt just right? Let's bring that magic back this holiday season!! Our curated gift guides for 2024 are filled with thoughtful picks that will make your loved ones feel special. That's what it's all about, after all. Whether you're shopping for your main guy, your clutch coworker, […]
Learn With Us
Want to do what we do? Get the tools, mentorship, and training to be a Good Influencer professionally.
Learn More
Looking for Something?

SEARCH THE BLOG

We've been doing this since 2009 and we've posted a whopping 24145+ blog posts and counting. You might need a little help searching, huh?

Can We Send You Our Love Letter?

Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!

hello world!
Follow Along on Instagram
Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations
© 2024 Chris Loves Julia, LLC
PRIVACY POLICYTERMS & CONDITIONSAFFILIATE DISCLAIMERSITE CREDITCOMMUNITY GUIDELINES