Question
QUESTION:
A while ago I cut down a hugs tree in my back yard....... the chips sat for over a year before I was able to get them up. I used them to mulch my flower beds (now I hear i shouldnt do that) the chips in this space became  a beautiful black mulch and the deeper I went the deeper black it was........ my dilemma:  in this space which is right off the low deck in my back yard, I would like to build a half circle of flagstones and perhaps herbs.....
can you tell me how to do this? do I need topsoil or stones or sand?
thanks so much for your help and yes I would use succulents as long as they dont have needles on them. I thought of hen  and chickens
thanks again
madge


ANSWER: Hey, Madge.

I went researching a "hugs tree" before I realized that you probably meant "huge tree." Right?

I'm not sure why someone told you not to use the chips as mulch. I certainly would have, and I have.

Herbs are something that I've never grown and have absolutely no experience with. However, I don't think they'll do well in the chip mulch. I believe the home improvement stores have special soil for herbs, vegetables, etc., so you could probably cover the ground with that. However, you might have better luck by growing some succulents in the ground since they can adapt to just about anything, and growing your herbs is pots of various shapes and sizes. I think it would make a stunning display for you.

Stop by Borders Books and Music or a large home improvement store and look through their gardening book section for herb gardening, container gardening, and succulent gardening.

Hens and chicks would work well because they grow rapidly, reproduce rapidly, and fill in bare spots rapidly, all with very little water, trouble, or pest problems, and they come in many different varieties, colors, and sizes. See the following document for some pictures of the best in the succulent world: http://www.abouthomes.info/reports/Vegetation.pdf.

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QUESTION: giggle.. I never heard of a hugs tree either. I did mean huge....yes I think you are right about the hens and chicks but how do I prepare the ground for the flagstone? it isn't really level and there are a couple spots along the edge where the old roots are still showing. My grandson is doing the hard stuff like digging for me so I guess I don't want to push tooo hard for fear of him being bored
I used chips in another bed and my hydrangeas are just doing very well. I did see some white stuff that is probably mold but I am not too worried. I am concerned with this spot that I am working on because when I step off the deck with the ground not level I may loose my footing then ugh  I don't even want to think about it
thanks again

Answer
Hey, Madge.

Ground preparation can vary depending what size flagstone you're going to use. I've always liked the larger sizes, but if the ground isn't prepared right, then they will crack. The best way is to create a concrete pad underneath, but that can get expensive very quickly. I've always leveled the area and then created a 3-6" sand substrate to provide even support for the flagstone. Once that's done, I'll put a 2-3 inches of soil on top of the sand, water lightly but daily for about a week to help the soil and sand settle and get all the air pockets out, and then set the flagstone in the soil. Add some more soil, some pea gravel, or mulch around the flagstone.

Try to get all the roots and rocks out of the area first before you add the sand.