| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 26 2007 : 9:47:08 PM
Yikes. So that is what two and a half weeks of watering and no weeding can do to a garden! I just spent an hour pulling weeds, picking peas, pulling carrots, and mowing weeds. I can't believe how much the weeds have grown! I literally couldn't see my garden for the weeds!
I should have taken pictures- but I think you ladies would have been scared :p Hopefully I will have my garden back in a few days!
The good new is that my tomato plants are flowering! Yah!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 04 2007 : 08:58:41 AM
Mima- Morning Glories will spread the more you pull. Each little root fragment becomes a new plant. You have to kill the root infrastructure. May I suggest killing the whole lot and planting a nice clematis instead? Clematis climbs and has very pretty flowers, and while it will spread- it does so, but slowly and is easy to contain. :)
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
| mima |
Posted - Jul 04 2007 : 07:09:44 AM
Gardening is a full time job!!! I swear I weed evey day! No sooner than i pull something i go outside in the morning and They're back!!!!Emsmommy its funny you should mention morning glories... I planted some a few years ago thinking they would look so cute by a little fence! They do look cute BY THE FENCE! but not everywhere else! One one my jobs in the a.m. is pulling out brand new batches of morning glories!!!!(oh! we also have lovely crab grass thats a b____ to tear out!!!! |
| emsmommy5 |
Posted - Jul 04 2007 : 06:56:06 AM
I wouldn't wish my current garden situation on anyone. =)So, I sincerely hope your garden is in better shape than mine!!!
Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth! |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 8:10:47 PM
Ugh! Morning glory and thistles! Are you sure you weren't out in my garden? ;)
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
| emsmommy5 |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 7:37:52 PM
I spent hours in the garden today pulling morning glory and being attacked by spiney thistles, but I found the cabbage, and one row of lettuce. I did have one brocolli casualty to a rogue vine of morning glory that got tangled around it with out me realizing it. I found lots of volunteer potatoes, and I am excited about that! Now it's keeping on keeping on and trying to untangle the tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and what ever else is hiding behind the morning glory and thistles.
Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth! |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 6:01:10 PM
Hi Jo!
Thanks for the reminder about that type of hoe. I really need to buy one so I am probably going to order one! Do you use it a lot?
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
| jo Thompson |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 4:36:57 PM
I bought an amish hoe like the one MJ recommended, it is awesoooooome, I think everyone should have one of those, fortunately my 45 day growing season pretty much eliminates the gardening thing, Just kidding, it's probably almost 100 days........... jo
"life is drab without a lab"
http://homepage.mac.com/thomja/Anchorage/PhotoAlbum15.html
http://web.mac.com/thomja/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html |
| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 4:26:46 PM
Someone needs to invent a glass detector. I'd sure buy it. Would really help at the dump site/archelogical dig site at the farm. I'm afraid someone will get cut on a bottle from years ago working it's way up in the rain/freeze over time. It is fun/dangerous what works its way up out of the ground. What ever happened to being able to run around barefoot? Even in housing developments, a sloppy job site covered over and laid to sod can have nails working up...cringe. I'm so very sorry someone's momentary thoughtless action ended up hurting you.
We make a difference. |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 10:32:07 AM
Hi Michelle-
I am not a big glove wearer- I love the feeling of mud on my hands- but yesterday might change my mind. I got so much dirt under my fingernails that it was actually hurting (might be one of the reasons I was cranky last night :) ) and the side and a little of the pad of my middle finger on my right hand got cut. It isn't too bad- basically just like a really bad paper cut. I washed it out really well and it isn't even infected today. I type with the tips of my fingers so typing isn't too bad :)
I am just wondering how broken glass got in to my garden! When I worked the soil this spring I pulled a lot out, but I thought I had gotten it all. I would have thought with as much weeding and planting as I have done, I would have found it by now. I guess all my watering must have brought it to the surface.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tpying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 09:43:03 AM
OH, Alee! Don't you have some leather gloves? Shoot. I'm so sorry you were injured, how are you typing now? I ope t was't to bd. Darn weeds.
We make a difference. |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 5:11:19 PM
I went out today and was almost done weeding when I cut my finger open. Some wonderful person dropped a broken beer bottle in my garden and I didn't see it until my finger was bleeding. Ouch!
The weeds are in retreat and I keep killing the little baby weeds! I am feeling pretty good about the damage I am inflicting on them.
I have decided I really like the soil in my upper part of the garden because it has so much organic matter in it. I am going to mow when it is really dry so I can mulch my garden and this winter my garden is going to get a really heavy mulching. I love the super rich soil that is thick enough for plants to stand in, but crumbles easily. It makes pulling weeds much easier!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| emsmommy5 |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 4:35:21 PM
I totally sympathize. It sounds like your bindweed is the same thing as my morning-glory, the weed I have been lamenting online for several weeks. I suppose I should be a good girl and get back out there and keep on pulling.
Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth! |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 2:05:08 PM
LOL! An Anti-Fairy! You crack me up! I can just hear the funeral march music playing around you as walk around zapping that nasty toadflax "Dum, dum da dum..." hehehehe!
Last night when I went out to water...what was peaking through my peas at me?? Bind Weed and Common Mallow!!! GRRR! Who put radioactive fertilizer on the WEEDS?!! I swear! That is the only explanation as to why they are growing so fast!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 08:50:43 AM
Alee, don't you just hate the way the bindweed sticks! Ack. Nature's Velcro. Good news is that once you get it out, it should be better next year. I had that in my flowerbeds pretty bad when I moved in, and I've never had to fight with it much since the first time. Toadflax...50,000 seeds, 10 year dormancy...this is a long term battle. But now I have my poison wand. Like some anti-fairy walking through the field.
We make a difference. |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 01 2007 : 1:10:07 PM
Michelle-
I feel for you! That ToadFlax must be about as pernacious as the bindweed stuff. I am about to resort to chemicals too- but since I have a smaller plot of land, I am going to try and stick with the "if you pull it enought it will lose strength" philosophy a bit longer!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| Celticheart |
Posted - Jul 01 2007 : 12:42:31 PM
That is such a GREAT idea! I'll have to try it. This year we are trying to keep ahead of the weeds in our huge garden. We have regular weeding days scheduled during the week and so far we've stuck to the plan pretty well. This week has been the exception. We missed 2 days and the weeds are getting pretty tall in the beets and the kohlrabi. We also have pasture and when the sprinklers are running in the pasture we water the lawn and garden with the water from the creek. That creates more of a problem with the weeds but it does cut down on the city water bill. We live outside the city limits but are on city water and it costs us more than the people in town. One of my DD's and her family are gardening with us and that helps alot with the weeding issue. Like they say "Many hands make light work."
"Nature always has the last laugh." Mrs. Greenthumbs
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| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - Jul 01 2007 : 09:29:34 AM
Oh Alee, I'm right there with you. My battle with Dalmation Toadflax rages on. Pulling/digging got ridiculous given the acreage involved. DH invented the neatest tool. Bought a "grabber" at a home improvement store, some sponges, and some zip ties. Now I have a tool that I can dip into my weed killer (I had to give in). I give it a squeeze to get the excess liquid out, then grab the base of the weed, pull upward coating all the leaves, and move on. No bending, no pulling, no overspray. It just kills the one weed I apply herbicide to. I've entered the critical phase where the weed is beginning to set seed in some places, so I just have to do what I can to stop the spread. I got the idea from a friend cleaning out weeds in her iris bed. But I was uncomfortable even in 2 layers of chem-proof gloves at the idea of sticking my hand in poison and applying it to the plants. This way I'm several feet from it all.
We make a difference. |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 30 2007 : 5:05:10 PM
Okay- I spent evey spare moment out in the garden today. I think I have the weeds in retreat- but they keep calling up reinforcements... grr....
At least I can SEE my garden now! You would not believe how many weeds I had! I am finding that Bind Weed is a nightmare and it is really challenging my organic sensibilities. I have been having fond thoughts of Roundup bombs on little bindweed groups...
On the up not, I harvested some more peas and carrots today. The tomato plants are doing wonderfully and some of them are going to have little tomatos forming any day now! I am so excited! I can't hardly wait until I can bite into that first lush beautiful tomato! Yum! It makes my mouth water just thinking about it! LOL
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| Love-in-a-Mist |
Posted - Jun 29 2007 : 11:52:42 AM
We got a tool called an onion hoe. The onion hoe is my hero. I will take a picture for you girls and post it later today.
http://diaryofafarmerswife.blogspot.com/ |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 11:06:53 AM
Thanks for the link Jonni! I might have to try that under the newspapers I plan on putting down.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 10:54:15 AM
Alee--
This is the one I purchased...it says Organic, but I do know that the other Preen types are also biodegradable, won't harm earthworms, safe for birds, etc...
http://www.preen.com/newpreen/prdpreenveg/index.jsp
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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| Alee |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 08:57:49 AM
No, I had never heard of Preen before... what is it? Is it organic?
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 07:18:07 AM
Weeding is good for your soul. For me, it's better than yoga!! When I'm frustrated, or sad, nothing makes me happier than digging those little buggers out of the ground  And, yes, when you're finished, you can raise up, stiffly, and look at your happy garden.
Alee, this year, I used Preen (ever heard of it?) and I have to say, my weeds have been much less. I still have that darn stanglevine (seems like the more you pull it, the stronger it comes back!!!) but other than that, things look pretty good. Not as many deep taprooted weeds like last year. I think I'll put another helping of Preen down on July 4th, and that should last the rest of the summer.
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
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| Miss Bee Haven |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 07:01:08 AM
Good luck, Alee. I'm losing the weed war! GRRRRR....
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
| asnedecor |
Posted - Jun 28 2007 : 06:56:25 AM
Alee -
I have been doing battle since about March. I get the yard in front of the house looking good and then I start on the back. As soon as I make progress on the back, it is out to the front again to pull more weeds. Then I get the vegetable area looking good and the perennial bed needs to be cleaned out. Sometimes I feel I am losing. What is surprising is amongst all of the weeds, the flowers are doing great and blooming like mad. Oh well, I am make some progress but I think the work is never done.
Anne in Portland
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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