How to lay a concrete paver path… fast and dirty.

Last year we purchased concrete pavers and laid them down on the clay soil on three sides of our home. We knew that it was risky not following any “rules” or “directions” during our installation – and we were right.

We had originally wanted to make our own clay pavers from locally quarried clay as mentioned in Christopher Alexander’s “Pattern Language”, a great design manual. He suggests that this sort of paver would blend well with the natural surroundings – a little dip here, a little slant there and perhaps some grass growing between. But we came to our senses and realized that was too much work and probably beyond our skill level. Then we thought about hiring out, but that was going to be too much for our budget. Several friends mentioned trenching, laying crushed rock and generally making a project of it. But we wanted something simple that would look country like the clay pavers we had envisioned. Well, fools always seem to have a clear road ahead of ‘em and we were set on walking that way.

So, we jumped right in. We scrapped away the weeds and, more or less, leveled the clay soil, tossing the rocks away. Then we placed our pavers three deep around the house. Tired, but done, we gazed at our work – it was too bad. Winter came along and the pavers settled in and so did the weeds. By spring we could barely see the pavers for the weeds – big nasty ones too. This spring we are pulling up the pavers and removing the weeds, roots and all, but before we put them back down (four deep this time), we have laid down some weed cloth. We also filled the spaces between the pavers with soil so we could plant scotch moss. This time, despite our hokey approach, we think we got what we want.

If you aren’t comfortable just going for it as we did, you might dig around on the web for advice. We found a couple of websites you might want to look at

- http://www.ehow.com/concrete-pavers/

- http://www.concretepaversguide.com/how-to-install-concrete-pavers-yourself.html

- http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-install-a-paver-sidewalk/index.html

- http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Pavers

Good luck with your project!

Peony factoid

In the US, the tree peony is hardy from zone 4 to 9. The fall is the best time to plant a tree peony. New roots develop and grow rapidly in 77 to 64 degrees temperature before dormancy in winter. When the temperature goes below 40 degrees, the plant stops growing. In early spring as soon as the temperature is above 40, it starts to grow again. Cover with remay for warmth to encourage quick rooting before dormancy.

Tree peony likes dry and cool weather. It does not require a long period of extreme cold in order for it to bloom in the spring. A period of 30 to 45 days of 32 to 41 degree temperature is enough to insure tree peonies to bloom. In the southern US states where there is heavy rain fall and the temperature often reaches above 90 degrees during the summer, they will be able to grow and bloom in the spring, provided they are planted in a location with good drainage, sufficient ventilation, and under semi-shade. You might consider a covered hoop to help keep them dry and warmish initially.

Storing bare-root tree peony

If your tree peony comes in bare-root form it should be planted as soon as possible upon arrival. However, if you need to store it for a few days, it should be kept cool and moist in a moisture retaining pack such as sawdust or peat moss. Remember the tree peony is a hardy plant.

Selecting a site

Tree peony can be planted under full sun or part sun. It requires at least 4 to 5 hours of sun light daily. In areas where it is very hot in the spring, during the blooming season, the heat causes the flowers to wilt and drop fast. In this case, it is better to plant it in a semi-shady area. Good drainage is essential. In a lowland during the summer where accumulated rain water can cause root rot, it may be fatal. However, you can provide better drainage by planting it on a gentle slope or in a raised bed. Avoid planting tree peonies near large trees which may draw the necessary nutrients away from the peonies.

Preparing the soil

Chinese tree peony likes loamy soil with high humus content to a depth of at least 2 feet. It grows best in soil with a ph of 6.5 to 7.5.

Here are some pictures of peonies that we have grown -

Nursery Spring blooms…

May is slipping on past. Spring is quite the tease around here and we don’t know if we should wear a tee-shirt or a sweater. Tumultuous is the word – very typical for southern Humboldt county. Thought I might show you some of the new spring growth in the nursery. First, look at this sweet Alexander Magnolia flower -

We have a lot of plants we are getting up to speed at Milewide Nursery, but two of my favorites are the native Oregon White Oak seedlings that I have started and the 2nd year bright red Japanese Maples that are getting up to size.