Weeding, Weeding, Weeding

May 17, 2012

I am very proud of myself this year. I’ve managed to keep my little vegetable patch weeded. You may think that this is not such a big deal, but it is for me. I hate weeding! Trying to differentiate between weeds and vegetables (especially when they are seedlings) is a pain. Who knew that spinach seedlings look just like grass? Not me. Good thing I was letting those weeds get a little taller so I could get a hold of them. Bending, stooping, or kneeling is also a pain (sometimes literally). I have been using a rotary cultivator to help with the weeding chore. It has been a great tool for saving my knees and back, and it keeps the soil light and fluffy, too.

Mulching has helped, but my seedlings need to be a bit bigger to mulch the entire garden. I’m afraid I won't be able to find my carrots if I mulch them now. The areas that are mulched are doing very well. Only a few weeds have worked their way up through the layer of mulch. The mulch has also helped with the watering.

Every evening after work, I try to go out and pull a few weeds by hand, too. The weather has been so nice that this is more enjoyable than it will be during the heat of the summer. It has been almost a pleasure rather than a chore. Just seeing how pretty my garden looks when it is weeded has helped me keep up, too.

Heather C.
Lee's Summit Branch