What did you do in your garden today?

[akroberts]

If you figure it out let me know! I will say I tried encouraging the trifolium last year, since its much easier to rip out when I want too, but stays nice and low and keeps the other weeds out. It was a partial success, ill have to fiddle with it this year. Anywhere it wasn't was instantly crabgrass/Johnson grass or plantain lol.

With the crabgrass I spent probably over 20 hours trying to get it out of the garden. I'm just really thinking that just using cardboard and paper and rocks to bury it, I might be able to avoid weeding for so many hours and times.

 

[Mini Horses]

Real problem I have with garden/weeds/weeding -- I still have a job, so time. Maybe a day that's best to get young weeds is a work day & extends for several. The weeds know & take advantage of me if home 24/7 might do better

I've used cardboard with some success. It helps, doesn't fully stop them. Works best if it's wet good at application. Mulch helps. Really, I believe those picture perfect gardens are simply a good photo shoot after a team has gone in and prepped it!!

Wider rows and a tiny tiller. That's helpful. Smaller garden. Also, length of time you've gardened in one area helps. I use a tractor rototiller to prep but, after planting the tractor is out. I swear, I've tilled, raked, repeatedly...still the roots grow more

 

[flowerbug]

it is amazing how many weed/grass seeds can blow in on the wind. i've had this fenced garden area for almost 30yrs and some years it is kept pretty much weed free, but the past several years with the field to the south of us being full of grassy weeds and thistles i've had a real booger of a time. i'm hoping this year is better now that the field is covered again but we'll see...

 

[flowerbug]

weeded a little and buried some more bean pods. sweated a little (77F!) and am glad the rest of the coming week is not going to be as warm. rains this afternoon and tonight in the forecast then cooler 51F tomorrow.

got to see my first bumblebee of the season! i'm sure they've been out there for quite some time already but i have not been out there myself to see 'em.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I FINALLY got the last raised bed put together. It took a mere 72 nuts/bolts. My back is protesting, my eyes are crossed and my fingers are sore. Maybe I should order a couple more, lol.

 

[Rillowen]

With the crabgrass I spent probably over 20 hours trying to get it out of the garden. I'm just really thinking that just using cardboard and paper and rocks to bury it, I might be able to avoid weeding for so many hours and times.

That's what im doing this year, after the neighbor took his tractor and plowed it for me, and i went through with a hoe and shovel rather aggressively lol. I'm hoping I can eliminate now, not worry as much later. I spent a good 5 hours a week weeding last year... not ok.

 

[flowerbug]

...Maybe I should order a couple more, lol.

that's entirely reasonable...

 

[flowerbug]

you learn after a while which weeds you need to keep after right away and those that you can just get after eventually.

quack grass in this heavy soil is no fun but after a few years i can clear it from an area and keep it under control as long as i have the time to scrape and work on the edge. a better edge would help a lot but i don't often have materials for that.

 

[murphysranch]

The only way to get rid of crabgrass is to spray it with killer and appy a pre-emergent in the winter Dont know it this is safe for gardens tho.

 

[flowerbug]

The only way to get rid of crabgrass is to spray it with killer and appy a pre-emergent in the winter Dont know it this is safe for gardens tho.

i just keep after it and eventually it gives up. my major concern is to get it before it drops new seeds or gets too big to easily scrape. last year in the north garden i had some that were 4-5ft across, it was so much more work to get those removed before they could drop their seeds but i managed to get it done.

pre-emergents aren't good for anyplaces you want to direct sow plantings of either flowers or vegetables. i've not ever used them here.

the times when i disturb the soil deeply seems to be when i'm encouraging some new crabgrasses to sprout but they are easily scraped before they get too big and after a few rounds of that they don't come back. the seeds do persist in your soil seedbank for quite a long time but just remember to go back in any newly disturbed areas a few times to scrape them again and they'll be gone.

one of my goals for today is to get the north garden looked at and perhaps some of it weeded and scraped. the weather is looking to be nice enough to be outside for a while.

i was thinking i could plant some peas today but later this week we have four or more days in a row with pretty cold overnight temperatures so i'll wait another week on the snow pea planting.