Show Date: 5 Aug 10
At this time of year, the weeds have a distinct advantage over us.  While we are off trying to squeeze every moment of summer heaven in Minnesota, the weeds are creeping into our garden beds and taking over…

Here’s my suggestion if you have a really thick infestation.  Try a complete renovation.  I know it sounds like a lot of work but it’s actually less work than trying to carefully weed around your good plants.

Dig out your good plants, then use Round Up on a windless day to kill those weeds.  If you can’t get to replanting right away, then “heel” your plants in another partly shady area of your landscape until you can replant.  They’ll be fine for up to a week. 

Add 2 to 4 inches of organic matter into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil.  Let it settle and then replant!

Show Date: 28 Jun 10
The Canada Thistle would make public gardener enemy number 1

Canada Thistle

This is a bugger to get rid of due to the fact that this little beast has horizontal AND vertical roots.  It is a perennial here.

Get as much of the weed as possible then take 8 layers of newspaper and lay on top of the affected area, use mulch such as straw, grass clippings or compost to lay on top of that. 

It will hold the newspaper down and cover it’s ugliness.  Leave it on for the season and then till the whole mess under in late Fall.  All the newspaper, mulch and dead thistle will decompose and become compost.

You could also try pouring vinegar on the area AFTER you’ve pulled as much of the weed as possible.  This is the NON chemical way to deal with “Gardener Public Enemy Number ONE”.

Show Date: 28 Apr 10
One gardener’s weed is another’s lunch!

From the roots to the flowers, from culinary to medicinal, all parts are edible!  From soup to egg salad here’s an array of dandy recipes:  YUM
Remember to NEVER eat anything that’s been treated with a pesticide…  pick only clean greens.  One of my favorite magazines has an article about dandelions:  Mother Earth News

Show Date: 6 Aug 09

What to do when the weeds are winning?  Renovate! 

Dig up those great plants, “heel” them into another area, use a total vegetation killer to rid your bed of those weeds and then replant. 

Heeling in your plants simply means that you dig an unplanted area and give your plants a temporary home while you renovate.  You could also leave them in pots if you have enough. 

 The idea is to give them a fighting chance by saving your good plants and knocking out those pesky weeds.  Read the label directions on the chemical you choose to know when you can start replanting.  Round Up is probably the most widely known total vegetation killer.

Show Date: 31 Jul 09

This is one tenacious weed.  You thought Creeping Charlie was bad, this little fella can grow a tap root 2 feet long! 

Common Mallow

Show Date: 14 Jul 09

This patch of garden is so THICK with crabgrass you can barely see the little flags to tell where the veggies are!

Weeds and veggies.

This is where I tell new gardeners that you need to prepare your bed first, something these unfortunate first-timers didn’t do. 

Start small or you’ll find yourself overwhelmed with weeding, find a full sun location near your home, use a total vegetation killer to get rid of all weeds and grass, till in compost into the top 6 to 8 inches of the bed, cover it with weed free straw or shredded leaves and plant in the spring. 

If you prefer not to use chemicals then place 6 to 8 layers of wet newspaper in the area you’ve selected, cover with weed free straw or shredded leaves and plant in the spring.

Show Date: 22 Jun 09

I spent much of my weekend weeding which really means I let my mind wander. Listening to the birds, the chimes my husband made and dreaming. I find it relaxing while feeling like I’ve accomplished something. I leave some weeds behind in hopes that bad bugs will munch on them and they’ll give shelter to good bugs! Oh and I scoped a couple of sales and found two newer cultivars of Ninebark called “Center Glow” developed by the University of Minnesota:

Ninebark Center glow.

Can’t wait to see what they look like next year!