Question
My daughter lives in Gillette, Wyoming. SHe has an "L-shaped" corridor of shrubs and trees surrounding her back yard.(lilacs, blue spruce, + various firs, all 10 yrs old).  Our problem is keeping the weeds down between the trees (or lilacs)and the fence.  The width of this corridor ranges from 4 to 6 feet. I have used the best weed barrier I can buy. None of the barriers last much longer than one year, then the weeks take over.  I don't want to use a strong week killer because of the closeness of the trees and shrubs. I am considering buying regular roof shingles then cutting them so they will lay over the heavy grass between the fences that outline the corridor. But, I am wondering if shingles would leach anything into the ground, that would eventually be harmful to the trees and shrubs. What do you think?

Answer
Hello Don

i am an Englishmen based in Italy so I have no idea what roof shingles are but I would imagine they are bitumen based. If this is the case then they mostecertainly would be harmful to the soil and it's organisms.

If I were you I would simply contact your local forester and ask him if he knows someone who chips branches etc from the forest. He will be glad to give it to you and it will keep the weeds down, when laid to a depth of around 5 inches or so. Every year you will have to add more as the soil organisms will eat it, improving the soil at the same time.

This type of mulch is best applied every autumn (fall)

See here for more info: www.ecologicagardens.com

Good luck,

Jonathan