Today I have been preparing my garden beds for winter. I have a large yard, which was originally set up as a permaculture garden. One third of the yard is fruit trees and ground cover beneath them, fruit bushes and annual veggies (for example, asparagus). Another third is garden beds..which are replanted each spring. The remaining third is grass and weeds growing together in an impressive balance of nature. I have always been happy with the lawn part of the yard because we have at least 30 different varieties of plants (mostly grasses) growing together and improving the soil. Of which I can identify, we have several types of grass, plantain, clover, dandelion, and several others I do not know what they are.
I am very excited to create an outdoor enclosure for my little hatchling. I know that I will be waiting until next spring to let her be outside, but I am mentally preparing now for how I will set things up.
What would be a good size for a baby Sulcata up to a year old? I want to give her as much room as she would use and then plan to expand the area the following spring.
The question I have is...Should I put down plastic to kill off the plants and then replant early next spring the area in which her enclosure will be? I would prefer to just build above a healthy patch of yard and give her the healthy weeds and variety that she would benefit from. My hesitation with this is...my yard has morning glories that sprout up everywhere and I am constantly pulling them. Also I have an unbelievable amount of volunteer tomato plants that sprout everywhere as well. There is also poke berry and lambs quarter that sprout wherever they can. My fear is that she would discover and eat the unhealthy plants before I could pull them up and that she would get sick from them. Would she avoid them by instinct? Or should I attempt to control the plants growing to ensure they are only what she can eat? I will put down plastic now before Winter if this is best...I just was thinking that the natural growth, and the plants who have perfected their own balance would be preferred if they would not pose a threat to her.
Also, if I should kill a section of the lawn and replant in the spring...are there any online sources for weed seeds? I have found dandelion and fescue plus a mixture of grass seed, but that is all.
Thanks for the input!
-Ness
I am very excited to create an outdoor enclosure for my little hatchling. I know that I will be waiting until next spring to let her be outside, but I am mentally preparing now for how I will set things up.
What would be a good size for a baby Sulcata up to a year old? I want to give her as much room as she would use and then plan to expand the area the following spring.
The question I have is...Should I put down plastic to kill off the plants and then replant early next spring the area in which her enclosure will be? I would prefer to just build above a healthy patch of yard and give her the healthy weeds and variety that she would benefit from. My hesitation with this is...my yard has morning glories that sprout up everywhere and I am constantly pulling them. Also I have an unbelievable amount of volunteer tomato plants that sprout everywhere as well. There is also poke berry and lambs quarter that sprout wherever they can. My fear is that she would discover and eat the unhealthy plants before I could pull them up and that she would get sick from them. Would she avoid them by instinct? Or should I attempt to control the plants growing to ensure they are only what she can eat? I will put down plastic now before Winter if this is best...I just was thinking that the natural growth, and the plants who have perfected their own balance would be preferred if they would not pose a threat to her.
Also, if I should kill a section of the lawn and replant in the spring...are there any online sources for weed seeds? I have found dandelion and fescue plus a mixture of grass seed, but that is all.
Thanks for the input!
-Ness
but as long as you are commited, it can be done!
