“By far the best proof is experience.”  ~ Sir Francis Bacon

There is no substitute for experience.

I worked on my first paver patio in the summer of 1988. The commonly accepted school of thought at the time was that a properly installed paver patio or sidewalk was virtually maintenance free. Paving stones are set on a minimum of 4” of compacted crushed limestone and a 1” bedding layer of coarse sand, with sand swept into the top joints. Weeds are definitely not coming up from below, but contrary to the early literature, experience has taught us that weed seeds will germinate in the sand-filled joints. Patio owners faced with this problem are often over-whelmed by the concept of spending a day on hands and knees physically pulling each individual weed. As organic gardeners we will not even consider spraying some poisonous herbicide on a surface where we serve meals and our children play.

Within the last decade, there has been a new product introduced that will eliminate most, if not all, of the weed growth and the ant activity that occurs in paver joints. The product is “polymeric sand” and goes by many different brand names. It is basically a silica sand with a bonding agent that causes it to set up “rubbery hard”. This maintains the patio’s ability to flex with the freeze and thaw and not crack and break like concrete or mortar. It can be applied at the time of installation, but today we are discussing the existing patio that is filled with weeds. To rejuvenate an old, weed-infested patio:

1) Pull or cut any existing weed growth. Depending on the species of weed and the extent of the growth, the best bet is usually to use a string trimmer to cut the weeds off close to the paver surface and sweep up all of the debris. The weeds that take root in tiny joints usually tend to be toughest to pull!

2) With a good quality pressure washer and the narrowest stream nozzle available, carefully, patiently, even painstakingly wash out every joint in the patio. You hope to remove the weed roots as well as silt and sediment that has built up in the joint. At the same time clean the surface of all of the pavers.

3) Allow the surface to thoroughly dry. I recommend 24 hours if possible.

4) We do not proceed with this step unless the pavers are completely dry, the air temperature is above 45 degrees and there is less than a 40 percent chance of rain. Apply the polymeric sand and sweep thoroughly into all joints.

5) Use a leaf blower on a very low or idle setting and remove any dry product from the surface of the pavers. This is very important, because any sand left on the surface will stick to the surface when moistened.

6) Moisten the sand in the joints with a light mist. This is best done in several stages: wet the product, let it absorb for a few seconds, repeat. There should never be pooling of water on the pavers.

7) Stay off of the patio for as close to 24 hours a possible to let the product cure.

The result is a bright, clean patio that looks like new and should stay that way for years to come. In even more recent years, there has been a product introduced to apply to even larger joints, such as those that occur with a natural flagstone or Pennsylvania Bluestone patios. The one we use is called “gator dust” and I think the results are even better than the polymeric sand. It can also be used at the time of installation or applied later with the steps outlined above.

If you have experienced weeds in your paver or flagstone patio and did not know where to start, please contact the landscaping department at Marvin’s Organic Gardens to discuss this issue or set up a time for someone to come out to your home.

By Frank Stewart

In past articles I have briefly mentioned some environmentally friendly practices that should be considered by eco-conscious homeowners who are planning additions to the landscape. Today I would like to focus on two of the more interesting innovations to come along in recent years.

LED landscape lighting:
Whenever I have been asked by a customer “How do you feel about landscape lighting?” my response has been:

I think that dollar for dollar it is one of the best investments that you can make in your landscape. The initial cost is sometimes higher than the customer expects, but you are literally doubling the amount of time that the landscape can be viewed and enjoyed. In my opinion, a properly installed system is well worth the investment.

These days I feel even stronger about the positive aspects of the use of outdoor lighting with the broad availability of the LED fixtures. Some of the benefits include:

• They are up to 4 times more efficient than regular incandescent fixtures. LED uses between 50% and 80% less energy than traditional lighting. Even though all landscape lighting is typically low-voltage, this is a considerable savings in operation. Some studies indicate that if all households in the U.S. switched to LED lighting we could CLOSE 90 power plants nationwide.

• The lights last 10 times longer than incandescent and basically never “burn-out”. They just become 30% dimmer at the end of their rated life. 30% is the amount of change that becomes noticeable to the human eye.

• Voltage drop is not an issue with LED lighting, because the output is the same at 8 or 13 volts. This makes the system much easier to design and allows more flexibility in use. The great advantage to the home owner is that we can run more fixtures off of the same transformer. The transformer is traditionally the single most expensive component of a lighting system, and in some cases an additional transformer may be eliminated through the use of LED fixtures.

This is the most exciting thing to happen to landscape lighting in many years.

Permeable Pavers:
For the eco-friendly homeowner who hesitates to build a new patio or walkway because they feel like they are adding to the run-off issues by introducing more impervious surface, permeable pavers are the perfect solution.

Tests show that permeable pavers actually reduce run-off and increase ground water absorption compared to typical turf on clay/loam soils in Ohio.

The permeable pavers are built on a base of 1” washed limestone with a bedding layer of angular limestone chips. The stones themselves have a “tab” on the side that creates an automatic joint width of ¼” or more. The limestone chips are then swept into the joints. The final product is attractive, functional and environmentally sound.

Please contact the landscaping department at 513.932.3319 if you have any questions about these products.

What could possibly sound more attractive during these hot, humid summer days than sound of a cascading waterfall tumbling into a rolling stream and meandering its way into a natural pool of cool, clear water with beautiful aquatic plants and colorful Koi swimming peacefully about? It would be perfect it was your own private waterfall in your own backyard!
This nirvana can be achieved possibly more simply than you may have imagined.
Backyard water gardeners usually fall into two categories: The enthusiast who visits the water garden at every opportunity to feed the fish (which he may have named and are like family pets), tend the plants and just soak up the atmosphere. And there’s the individual who desires the aesthetics of a water feature without the interaction and the maintenance.
The very first question to ask your self when considering the addition of a water garden is which category do I realistically fall in? If you feel as if you would become involved and really enjoy having a pond with fish, frogs, turtles and plants, then a living eco-system pond with a waterfall is definitely for you. The pond can be made big enough with a stone bottom that you can wade into and be amongst the wildlife. If there are children in the household this is especially enjoyable and educational.
However, if you know that your lifestyle does not allow for the care and maintenance of a pond but you really appreciate the aesthetic value of running water, then your best option would be a “pondless” waterfall that requires very little maintenance.
Here are some truths about water gardening that we have discovered over the years:
-A properly designed and installed water feature often becomes the focal point of outdoor recreational activity.
-Humans (and most other animals) are naturally drawn to the sound of a waterfall.
-A waterfall can effectively mask unwelcome sounds such as traffic noise. It does not have to over-power the volume. The ear just seems to focus in on the water sound instead.
-The most common regret of homeowners who have installed water features is “I wish that we had made it bigger.”
-Just like almost every other aspect of landscape installation, the first and most important step is site selection.
-Water garden systems and technology have greatly improved over the last decade; so even if you had a bad experience years ago, do not be afraid to re-investigate the
possibilities.
If you have ever entertained the idea of adding a water feature, please give us the opportunity to come to your home and discuss the potential with you. Ask about the environmentally friendly option of a “rain exchange” water garden that collects rainwater to be re-used in irrigation systems or other outdoor uses. Let’s get wet!