Basic landscape tips needed

Going to be putting in a small landscaped area on one side of a 12' shed, it is just flat lawn right now.
Does all this make sense:
Mark the area, and chop a line in the lawn with a spade, then peel off the sod.
Spray area with Roundup and wait a few days.
Rototill area along with some black dirt (about a yard)and peat moss and plant plants (just a couple bushes and grass, sort of aiming it at stuff birds will like, on the bushes a couple serviceberry bushes and some perenial ornamental grasses, considering Prairie dropseed grass. I think the birds would "use" both of these. Will also be putting a couple bird feeders and a birdbath in this area).
Will then put some weed-x down and cover with shredded bark.
Am debating whether to use an edge around it or not and when would I put that down if i do it, after the rototilling?
Gilly

 

You don't apply RoundUp to bare or cleared groud you apply it to the growth so a better way is roundup first,wait a few days then clear the ground.You want the roundup to be absorbed by the plant and spread to the roots before removing top growth.

As long as the ground is level a weed block is fine but if it is not level sometimes mulch will wash away if it's on a weed block.

As for edging,totally up to you and probably easier to put in ahead of filling the area but after any tilling.

 

You can use a hose, string, rope, etc to lay out the area and then use flour to mark. If you are going to remove the sod, why would you want to spray with RoundUp? Besides, as Spdavid mentioned, you need green leaves for the RoundUp to work. It needs to be absorbed by the leaves to kill whatever it is sprayed on.


Not sure what black dirt is, but you already have dirt, so bringing in more soil runs the risk of bringing in weed seeds and raising the level of your bed. I would recommend you add 4" of compost to enrich the soil you have. If well aged the compost will have killed weed seeds and you'll be improving the texture of your soil and adding good microbes that will feed the soil that feeds your plants.

I don't recommend peat moss as it's low in nutrients, can lower the pH of your soil (it's highly acid), it's not a good thing for the environment and once dry, is difficult to rewet. Here's some helpful info about peat moss.
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/fac...rgmatter/#peat
http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/facts/peat.htm
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ksheets/peat.html#help

You can purchase compost in bags or bulk. Here's a calculator you can use to determine how much you will need. I'm also including a mulch calculator.
http://www.cedar-grove.com/compost_calculator.asp
http://www.atstecks.com/mulch.htm


Here's info on berries birds like to eat and more about birds.
http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/t...berrybirds.asp
http://www.wildbirds.org/newintro.htm
http://www.springmeadownursery.com/article_6.htm
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champa...rs/031108.html
http://www.pineridgegardens.com/birdfood.htm#plants
http://www.birdnature.com/trees.html
http://www.gwf.org/resources/wildlif...thebasics.html

Viburnums are are great for birds, but some are better at bearing berries then others and they come in different sizes.
http://www.sylvannursery.com/pdf/viburnum.pdf


Do be careful with the serviceberry as most grow into large trees.


If you use a weed block your grasses and any perennials you plant won't be able to seed into the soil. Since this is a small and flat area, I would suggest you don't bother with that. After you plant you can put down 6 layers of dampened newspaper to block any weed seeds already in the soil from sprouting. Then put your mulch on top. The newspaper will decompose in a few months. Be sure it's dampened or you'll be chasing it all over the yard with the first breeze. Been there...


Edges are good as it will make it easier to mow the grass. I do that at the end so it's easier to plant and you aren't stumbling over the edging material. You can even do a dropped lawn edge. Take a look here.
http://www.hgtv.com/home-improvement...ion/index.html

I'll be leaving shortly and won't have computer access for a week, but I suggest you do a google search for any plants recommended. If you decide to plant a honeysuckle for the hummers and birds, be sure to plant the native Lonicera sempervirens. There are many beautiful named cultivars now, but be sure it has that botanical name as the others are invasive in the environment. Lonicera sempervirens will bloom on and off from early May until hard frost. You can make a hinged fold down trellis against the shed.
http://www.michaelholigan.com/depart...8G2J3N3AT0A50#

Newt