Submitted by Joan Regan
Just when I thought I had some sort of control over Gout Weed (Aegopodium) and Creeping Bellflower (AKA the “F”weed) Campanula Rapunculoides. Along comes Garlic Mustard to my garden. I first noticed it behind the compost bins, looked innocent enough, and the next year it had pretty dainty flowers. BUT this year, it’s scaring me. It has more than tripled its size. The whole area is covered in it. It’s way too healthy, content and happy looking. So I am declaring war on this new to me enemy. Look out G M. This old broad is armed (with a Scorpion’s will). I will win. Stay Tuned.
LAKE DEBRIS
Had a call from a gal that lives on the Huron side and she was wondering about all the “Gunk” that washes ashore in the Spring. “Can I put it on my gardens? Are there any nutrients in it?” So after a (short) call (tee hee) to my go to guy J F, a decision was made. “NO”. However not to waste it we decided it would make a good filler in any hollows that needed to be topped up. I dump a lot of my rakings from the paths into my hollows and it also makes for good “fillers”.
WOOD CHIPS
Seems that quite a few more folks this year are growing veggies, so more trees have been coming down or trimmed up to allow for sunlight. Now there are wood chips and “Can we put these chips on the gardens?” Yes, they are great to use for garden paths, they will help to strip the nitrogen from the soil and keep the weeds down.
But in doing this we do not want them in our gardens. We need the nitrogen in our garden soil for healthy leaf and stem growth. I don’t use wood chips on any of my gardens for at least two years, three is even better. But they are great for all my paths.
For the gardens, mulch is the answer. I have had success with the Mulch from POD and you can pick some up or have it delivered.
In these scary times and with the possibility of our town opening up, I am staying put. Missing our family so much as well as friends. But I do have lots of garden friends “In the garden” (not those darn bunnies though) and a comfy glider and might just make another little sitting area. I do have a couple more spots… Hmmm.
BE SAFE Everyone. Happy May Gardening,
Joni
jpregan@amtelecom.net 519 596 2389
