A bountiful crop of WEEDS

When reading Nora Hatchett's blog the other day, I zeroed in on her grandmother's words: "Stop and smell the roses and while you are at it, pull a few weeds."

Dolly Hurt's advice is applicable to my yard. The weeds have taken over my gardens. 
 
With these cooling afternoon showers the weeds seems to have grown faster and taller than my plants. This year I don't have them under control, as you can see in the photos. I have spent more time writing Garden Bones than working in my yard.

My gardens have witchgrass, crabgrass, yellow foxtail, and a sundry of other weeds. Yesterday, I noticed some weeds have started producing seeds and they need to come out now before the seeds drop. 

In past years, every spring a wonderful garden helper would clean my flower beds, put down Preen, then meticulously place a topping of pine straw. She was oh so careful not to drop pine needles on my prized plants. Thank you Lynn. I certainly do miss you, but know you are growing flowers with the angels.
 
Spring is the best time to get a head start on those pesky weeds. I have found when tilling a bed it cultivates last year's seeds. So it is best to use a pre-emergent weed killer. This will prevent the seeds from germinating. Preen has always been my poison of choice. For the organic gardener, corn gluten meal also kills the seeds.   

Boulevard resident Mary Tatum is trying another environmentally friendly way to kill unwanted vegetation. She is smothering her weeds with inexpensive rugs found at thrift stores and garage sales.

"We plan to cut holes in the rugs for shrubs and small trees," she said. 

Tatums explained they were still in the experimental stage, but were gradually winning the weed war. Maybe next year I will be able to take photos of her success. This method certainly eliminates harsh chemicals in our yards.  

Years ago I tried newspapers covered with pine straw. That worked well, until the wind blew the pine straw away and I had dirty newspapers showing in my front yard.  Other friends of mine have had good results with the black yard cloth. 

Mulch and more mulch, is another solution to weeds. Please notice in the photos, one of my garden beds has very few weeds. This particular bed is where the yardmen blow all the autumn leaves. It will be easy to tidy up with a couple of bales of pine straw.  

If you are looking for free mulch, keep an eye open for Georgia Power people trimming trees around utility poles. In past years they have given it to me free of charge.   

Much to my pleasure, Chestnut Tree Sevice cut down a tree for me last summer and they are delivering some mulch next week. Last summer I was facing surgery and there was no way I could get this mulch on my garden beds. Chestnut was so understanding, and offered to delivery mulch at a convenient time after my recovery. 

Can you call ivy a weed? I have always heard this saying about ivy: "The first year it weeps, the second year it creeps, and the third year it leaps."  Well mine is leaping all over the base of my crepe myrtle.  Roundup is about the only thing I have found to kill ivy. As you probably know, Roundup comes in different concentrations. I pick the strongest and mix it myself. I have not had good luck with the already mixed variety. 

So as you can guess, Garden Bones will be taking some time off in the coming weeks to try and clean up the yard. I am certain you will enjoy next week's guest columnist as he teaches you how to grow sunflowers...in the back of a truck.